The new rules for coronavirus - how will it affect your family?

A lot of people have found circumstances unfair.
Couples; it's not fair that just because there's two of us, we feel we're punished.
Singles; it's not fair for us because we are all alone, unlike couples.
Childminding grandparents; it's not fair because we have a special bond with the grandchildren...
All of the other reasons, too.

No, it's not fair, but that's how it is.

I find it somewhat astonishing that given the situation we are in, some people are moaning about things not being fair. Tough - if you can’t see all your dc and dgc at one time work out a rota. There has to be a cap on numbers to reduce risk six is the number chosen, just get on with it. Some people would regard it as a joy to be spoilt for choice as to who to be able to invite to your house or be invited by.
Goodness knows there’s plenty to criticise in how everything has been handled but I found today’s press conference and particularly Whitby’s slides, very helpful in providing the context for the ‘rule of six’. The slide that compared us, Spain, France and Belgium was particularly illuminating. The evidence is showing that most transmissions occur in and between households and so limiting the numbers we interact with makes sense. The smaller the number, the better - just be grateful it’s six and not two.

Whitty

I will obey the rules, just as I have since the start of this pandemic, but I do resent the total lack of logic or science behind them. Apparently Covid19 can't be caught in offices, schools, restaurants, pubs or any other place of education or instruction, even though the numbers are much greater. Being seated at a Covid compliant table away from strangers is perfectly safe, but if you know them infection spread is virtually guaranteed! As for Johnson, this is the man who boasted about shaking hands with known Covid patients, despite the early warnings. As far as I'm aware he has never apologised for this, or admitted he was an absolute idiot who set an abysmal example to others.

But suziewoozie it's not really limiting the numbers is it? As a couple you can meet 4 others in the morning, a different 4 others for lunch, perhaps a different 4 others for dinner and still have time for a nightcap with a fresh 4 others! All this would be perfectly legal, if a bit of a marathon. If it's desirable to limit interactions with others then it makes sense to limit contact to just between a set number of households that can't be varied. So you choose your one or two other households you meet and that's that. No swopping about.

Somewhere in all this, we have to be sensible ourselves as well. It would be really stupid to meet lots of groups of six each frequently.
At least with this system, we don’t have to make a once and for all choice but it behoves us to be sensible given we are able to choose and pick and mix.

suziewoozie the sensible ones (which I count myself amongst) have always limited contact. Indeed I immediately observed the government letter informing me my health status meant I had to shield, although the advice to not share a bathroom with my husband was impractical given we only have the one! The blasé will just go their own sweet way regardless. The only thing that will get us out of this is widespread vaccination, and I'm waiting with bated breath to hopefully be front of the queue!

*I find it somewhat astonishing that given the situation we are in, some people are moaning about things not being fair. Tough - if you can’t see all your dc and dgc at one time work out a rota. There has to be a cap on numbers to reduce risk six is the number chosen, just get on with it. Some people would regard it as a joy to be spoilt for choice as to who to be able to invite to your house or be invited by.
Goodness knows there’s plenty to criticise in how everything has been handled but I found today’s press conference and particularly Whitby’s slides, very helpful in providing the context for the ‘rule of six’. The slide that compared us, Spain, France and Belgium was particularly illuminating. The evidence is showing that most transmissions occur in and between households and so limiting the numbers we interact with makes sense. The smaller the number, the better - just be grateful it’s six and not two.*

We have been asked to explain our own experiences/opinions. It's not moaning. Yes of course I can understand why this is being done. Many have and will stick to the rules. Please do not tell me what I should be grateful for.

I had arranged to visit my niece for a couple of hours in her home, when I go for a visit to London. Sadly, he husband died in April, and I have not been able to see her since then.
She had intended to also have there for that couple of hours both her adult children, their partners and children and her brother and his wife and two boys.
Obviously, far too many under new rules - (assuiming it is still in effect when this planned visit takes place in afew weeks time).
I am just wondering if this is arranged in two or three batches, so that we could stick to the 'rule of six' for each time. All those people caught and recovered from Covid 19 earlier this year,.

All I’m thinking about is whether this will actually be enforced so will the parties be stopped. Eg party for 20 people gets a fine, all of them ? Or just the host ? £100 in that case would be meaningless. A fiver each.....
Will they start enforcing the mask wearing ?

Lucca in our police area, the hosts of parties have been fined £100 and the guests told to go home. I struggle with how enforceable it would be but begin to feel that everyone there should be fined £100.

At this moment it won't make any difference to me as I'm in an area of enhanced lockdown which means I can't meet friends etc in my home or garden or in the open like a park. But I am willing to play my part in this pandemic and do whatever it takes.

Iam64

Lucca in our police area, the hosts of parties have been fined £100 and the guests told to go home. I struggle with how enforceable it would be but begin to feel that everyone there should be fined £100.

Someone in Lancashire was fined £10, 000 last weekend for having a party in his house. The police had been called following complaints and there were about 20 people in his house and he got fined.

Goodbye lovely family Christmas.
Choose DS or DG?
Impossible

I have three grown up children with grandchildren. One of my children has three children making five of them plus my DH and myself = 7. We will be breaking the law. We won’t break the law by mixing all the families - 14 of us. We will be having Sunday roast with the five of them. It should have been two households up to 8 or 10. Families of four can’t meet another family of four even outside. The big problem is that some people have taken ridiculous advantage of the previous rules and we are now having to pay the price. If it was for a few weeks but Boris is saying maybe until March! No way! People will break the law.

Will buses limit passengers to 6 at a time ? Train carriages too ?
No, as its not meeting up socially, just the same as pubs and restaurants can have more than 6 people, just not more than 6 sitting together
of course you can still go and sit in a crowded office with 6 people not of your choosing (at least socialising you can choose who you socialise with); seems to me the govt are just bending rules where it suits, presumably as the economy would not survive another major lockdown

EllanVannin has asked my main question. I rely on buses to travel to care for my grandchildren after school & in the holidays. I've been doing this for several months as DD & SIL are key workers. Previously our hourly bus could take 10 passengers with many seats sealed off. That worked well with very few people turned away. Six passengers on our service won't.

It’s confusing, but I read this morning that 2 bubbles from previous can still meet up, maybe do abit of investigating to see what exact rules mean.

Actually assists my reading group compared to previous guidance (not legal position of 30) which it had been following. Now seems that instead of a group of 6 of us shivering outside over winter, we can meet indoors, whereas current guidance had been 2 households only.

It won't affect us because we've been cautious anyway. My family have seen too much in the hospitals where they work to take Covid lightly.

Wed already decided that getting the family together, even at Christmas, was a bad idea. Who wants their whole family going down with this!
Bad enough when just one of them catches it.

Haven`t read all the posts above..

but listening to bbc tv. and a parent/grandparents and I did see a comment above, how it is so hard for families

I thought of those people , not necessarily elderly, or disabled... those people who have no one....

so rarely are they considered...

me? my gks and parents are 6, I am invited for Sunday roast, Sunday`s are the pits when living alone, (me recently alone for the first time EVER in my life)

so I won`t be able to visit them now... so... another adjustment.. and what about Christmas!!! I am dreading this Christmas.

I tell you now,, if it wasn`t for my cat, I am sure I would have ended it all by now. humans, well generalising, just need to needed?

I count myself very lucky, as I am going to the UK next week, the first two weeks in self isolation, the following two weeks I will not be meeting more than a few people at any one time.I will have to put up with my own company,like a lot of other people.

Church services can go ahead but with no more than 6 at a time, but slimming clubs can have 30! We normally have 15-20 relatives on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, think we’re going to have to book tables at a local restaurant, 6 people per table socially distanced, no washing up! ( silver lining!! )

Someone discussed this on the news last night, said if a family have three children, therefore a family of five including parents, we’re back to the situation where that family cannot go to see the grandparents, unless one grandparent goes out until they’ve gone.