For everyone who's bending the rules!

I can’t help wondering what the purpose of this thread was.
Is it just for people to come on here to say how nobody else is following the rules except them?

Originally, it made a difference, or seemed to, that Britain and Sweden went into lockdown late, or not at all. Now Sweden has finally made a law that permits them to order people to stay at home as much as possible and to close shops, pubs, etc. Formerly, they did not have a law about epidemics and the precautions to be taken.

Looked at from another country, the British rules and restrictions seem to be unecessarily complicated, and I gather from gransnet that a lot of people are either ignoring them or confused about how they apply.

Both in Denmark and Germany, if you went into a shop without a mask on, you would be told to leave or put one on, but it seems you don't do this in the UK as many of you have been complaining about people not wearing masks in shops.

We have one set of rules that apply in the entire country: masks to be worn in supermarkets, pharmacies (the only shops open) on public transport plus railway stations and taxis, no schools, theatres, concert halls or pubs are open and church services have to be without singing and the congregation masked and sitting 6 ft from each other.

Both indoors and outdoors we have to keep 6 ft away from other people (except in our homes) and as of yesterday, parents have been asked to not sent the children to kindergarten or day care if it is at all possible to keep them at home.

These rules do seem to be working as there is a slight drop in the number of cases for the last week.

So stick to the rules, it does seem to help.

Agree Jennifer

Jennifer people need to vent. It helps.

My daughters neighbour works at a hospital. I don't know her position but she has people coming and going in her house all the time. She has a young child too.

“Cats and dogs don’t play an important role in the maintenance or transmission of the disease to humans,” says William Karesh, executive vice president for health and policy at EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit that tracks emerging diseases in animals. As a result, he says, “There’s no need for a vaccine from a public health standpoint.”

Science’s COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Heising-Simons Foundation.

doi:10.1126/science.abg2296

There are walk-in centres for minor ailments to take the stress off A&E's ?

Agree with JenniferEccles

You cannot change what other people are doing so there is point winding yourself up over it.

We all want this pandemic over, but we also have to live through it. It could be like this for another year.
We need to go out to exercise and buy food, we don’t need to go to garden centres or places of worship!
Also young people’s needs are different to an elderly person who is shielding! So many people bend the rules which I have done a couple of times after doing a lateral flow test! Condemn me only if you are like my neighbor who hasn’t left her house or haven’t broken a rule!
Let’s all try to keep apart as much as possible, it’s heartbreaking not seeing my elderly mum and grandchild!
Thank god I’m having the vaccine tomorrow!

Unfortunately, we are a nation of folk who believe in our rights, rights for this, rights for that, rights to pander to our own whims about needing to go out for exercise twice for three hours a day - I've read it all on this forum, about how people will be unbearable if they can't get out of their homes - such selfishness is a disgrace when we are in a global pandemic - it's people doing this and not the odd pangolin crossing the road in a Kent park that's fuelling the movement of this virus - to suggest that it is is facetious and an insult to the many people who have died. In countries where 'democracy' is not in existence such as in some parts of Asia, there is a much greater community spirit, and there was acceptance of total lockdowns and even curfews for people under 20 and over 60 way back in March/April 2020 - yes an infringement on civil liberties I hear lots of gransnetters cry, but it worked - it stopped many people losing their grandparents and parents, and it stopped certain occupations being depleted of their workers. Insisting on 'rights' is about selfishness, and to those who feel they are entitled for their mental health to ignore all requests to exercise just once a day and to do it locally, I would say that as a mental health specialist you are very much talking self-centredness here and not demonstrating any genuine mental health need. A day in a covid ward might be the exercise you need.

Nanniejude, the thing is, YOU may be safe. But others see you doing it and think, 'Ah sod it, everyone is doing it.' And hence, we are in lockdown for longer.

It really has to be an all in it together.

My little grandson sits in the front window, looking at other children outside. My heart breaks for him. He is sad and lonely. BUT he will be here and healthy this time next year.

I find that I do agree with Hetty and all I can say is that I see people out walking in groups with no masks, I do not go out as I am shielding but have friends and colleagues who do and they say that social distancing and non mask wearing in prevalent. This does not help the spread. I understand that people are fed up with the restrictions but I do wish those that are flouting the rules would just be sensible. It would not spread if rules were adhered to.

Franbern thank you, the best comment! ?

My friend says there are 3 types of people
Those who follow all the rules
Those who will not follow any covid rules
Those who pretend to follow the rules but do some things that are not allowed
I think most people are in the last category

It's so good to see you posting Marydoll. Glad to read the other day that you are back home now.

I do hope lots of other GNers read about your experience in hospital. I still keep reading of excuses for movement of people and am shocked at gatherings of any sort are being allowed to carry on,

Someone has said it should be a total lockdown (even stricter than early 2020 one. Agree

I can't agree with the someone's comment that many people aren't breaking the rules, certainly not enough to explain the explosive growth of new cases over the last month all over the country whether urban suburban, rural or deeply rural. There's another thread today about rule breaking at Christmas and it's repercussion.

Cornwall's Director of Public Health has very recently said that evidence is showing that the sharp rise here was due to community and household transmissions - friends, family and work colleagues. We went from 18 cases per 100,000 to 301.7 per 100,000 in a very short period and it's rapidly rising.

NERVTAG have stated that the new variant growth rate is 71% higher than others.

Keep safe Marydoll. I've one drive out this coming week (dentist). Dog gets her daily walk. I'm lucky to be by an isolated wood.

I don’t think this post will solve any issues but does give folks a change to share their thoughts and frustrations on the current set up. I do think the lockdown should have happened earlier, that more places should be shut like in lockdown 1, that the NHS are doing an amazing job and that many STILL don’t stick to the rules. I see it every day and hear the traffic from my window - not quiet like in March and April. In the meantime I try to count my blessings and do my best to ensure that I stay safe. Happy Sunday everyone, stay warm and safe.

Kandinksy, I quite agree with what you say.

I don't think the government took things seriously enough from day one. I watched the arrivals from all over the world coming here while we were in lockdown and it made no sense to me at all. There was isolation for a short while, but nowhere like enough. I had a healthy cousin die at the age of 56 just before we were informed of what was happening..
She had stayed in a hotel in Gloucestershire for two nights, where it had been filled with Chinese tourists. She died on January the 15th 2020. Shortly after that we were informed of the virus. She had all the symptoms we now know about, but thought she had the flu and didn't get medical attention.
BJ has done nothing but drag his feet while this has been going on and constantly changing the rules. No wonder people have stopped listening to him.

Get well soon Marydoll.xx
The government are being blamed not doing anything right and a hell of lot of mistakes have been made trying to balance the virus and the economy. Bumbling Boris only came in thinking he had Brexit to sort out and I'm not sticking up for him at all cos he has always come across as an idiot to me, but I wouldn't have his job for all the money in China. China huh!!
But then I've been watching the loads of cars out and about while out walking my dog, I heard the Tesco's near me, their carpark was really busy yesterday, so a lot people are to blame too just doing as they want, ignoring the rules. We are all really weary of it and promises of this and that never materialising. I only see other dog walkers, no family or friends are allowed near my house, it's lonely at times, but as long as I stay well that's the most important thing to me. Take care everyone.

Hi all,I was in hospital just before the first lockdown,I came home the day before and have been shielding ever since,my husband does the shopping and yesterday he spoke to a manager of the store he was in regarding face covering or rather the lack of it,the manager’s reply was there is nothing he can do about people entering the store without face coverings,I’m sure the government made it compulsory to wear face coverings while in shops.It’s no wonder that hospital’s are full and the nhs is struggling.

Unfortunately, we are a nation of folk who believe in our rights

I can't believe somebody has written this, and I can't believe nobody has called them out for it yet.

I will continue to insist on my rights while understanding my responsibilities. Many rights have been taken away from us during this pandemic and we are agreeing with that by an overwhelming majority, because most of us are good citizens. Despite all the anecdotal examples on here, the vast, vast majority of people are doing the right thing.

I'm not sure why it isn't mandatory to wear a mask as you leave the house. If you are severely asthmatic or have COPD so you can't wear one, then it is probably best not to leave the house. Most people could open a window to get fresh air, find a way to exercise at home, etc. I know it isn't completely the same as going for a walk or a cycle but if it keeps you alive and stops the rates of transmission, it would be a better option.

I think we have just become a more selfish society where individual rights supersede community rights. The Government know this and are unable to police more severe measures.

Any Christian group could justify not going to Church by "loving their neighbour as themselves" on the grounds that communing spreads this disease. I see posts on Social Media which say not to have the vaccine but put your faith in God as He will look after them. Well, if HE exists, he will have given us the tools to develop the vaccine so put your faith in Him and have the blessed jab.

Finally, I sat through a sentencing of a Paedophile last week. The judge explained that the defendant would be safer in prison because they are locked up 23 and 1/2 hours a day and in isolation. Just as I was thinking that this may be unfair on the many who are having to shield because they haven't actually committed a crime, the judge knocked off a year off the sentence for the "mental health" suffering the defendant will experience. WTF! The child involved has all those mental health issues and is unable to get help through this pandemic. No reduction in the sentence for the child. Honestly, I sometimes think the world has gone mad.

Kim19

I've just finished watching the Andrew Marr show. Found it interesting that Matt Hancock practised the 'stay at home' suggestion/plea for his interview whereas Sir Keith Starmer made the journey to the studio.

Keir.
Is that all you can find to criticise !?!
Honestly we’ve theories about cats spreading Covid and some woman on Loose women (surely the most reliable and serious source of facts and information......not) saying it was cooked up in a lab. 5g implants anyone ?

The comings and goings in our street have not changed much during lockdown. There is one flat that we have nicknamed the Tardis because of the number of people that appear to be living there.
There is a solution, issue identity cards. People tell lies.

JenniferEccles

I can’t help wondering what the purpose of this thread was.
Is it just for people to come on here to say how nobody else is following the rules except them?

Yup. It’s the competitive rule keeping thing again!

People still have to live, earn a living, buy food, get out of the house now and again. Yes some people do openly flout the rules with parties etc. But I think the vast majority are just trying to survive this and it's not helpful to be pointing the finger at somebody just popping to a shop or going for a walk. Most of us are head down, getting on with it as best we can.