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AIBU

Coronavirus cuddles

(53 Posts)
honeyrose Thu 06-Aug-20 20:28:18

My DH we’re having a drink this evening in a hotel garden. Whilst there, we saw 2 young woman customers (probably about 35 ish) greeting each other with a very enthusiastic hug and kiss on the cheek. I was flabbergasted! Does anyone think me overly-cautious in feeling that this is not a good idea at the moment when we’re trying to socially distance?

honeyrose Thu 06-Aug-20 20:29:59

Meant to say DH and I WERE having, not we’re having. Blooming predictive text!!

Chewbacca Thu 06-Aug-20 20:34:12

Not being unreasonable in the least but there seems to be an increasingly large section of society that firmly believes that they are:
a) immune to COVID and are neither carriers if the disease nor will they ever catch it
b) the rules regarding social distancing don't apply to them.
c) the rules about wearing a mask or face covering when entering supermarkets and shops isn't applicable to them because "they're only going to be a minute and I only need to pick up a couple of things".

allium Thu 06-Aug-20 20:58:24

Could they have been family members?

Jaxjacky Thu 06-Aug-20 21:00:28

The only person I’ve cuddled since March is my husband, not son, daughter or two GC, we’re still socially distancing and sit outside,

varian Thu 06-Aug-20 21:06:37

We have actually had some of our own grandchildren camping in our garden, in spite of the fact they have always previously stayed in the house, which has ample bedrooms and bathrooms.

I did find it difficult not to cuddle them as I've always done and I think they found it odd as well.

We agreed that since we couldn't cuddle each other, we just had to give extra cuddles to those we could cuddle. So I am giving Grandpa the extra cuddles that I would normally have given them.

Jaxjacky Thu 06-Aug-20 21:35:10

What a lovely idea varian, if I may, I’ll pinch that!

Furret Thu 06-Aug-20 21:54:01

I gave my best friend a hug when we met last month, We had both been observing rules, hand washing, hardly ever go out, wear masks and self distance on the rare occasion we do. This was the first time I’ve seen her this year.

harrigran Fri 07-Aug-20 10:05:15

I have not and will not hug friends or relatives, I have seen GC twice briefly and we wave and bow to each other.
I know that DD has embraced her aunt on several occasions but they live in other countries so no chance of them infecting me.
SIL just booked to visit the UK but now will have to quarantine as he is coming from Belgium.

Hebdenali Sun 09-Aug-20 10:38:55

Aaaaaargh. Depression, lack of human contact both physical and emotional and isolation are far more damaging to us human beings. Depression lowers the immune system. Lack of sunshine depletes vitamin levels and stress is far more damaging. Wear a mask in busy places, follow good hygiene rules and get on with life.

Natasha76 Sun 09-Aug-20 10:38:56

I know 2 people who are friends and have both had the virus, so now kiss without worrying. in fact its caused a few issues when I've said to them that they should be careful because we don't know how long immunity lasts. I know a while back the government was taking about immunity passports which they decided not to go ahead with. Maybe these 2 have both had it.

Pennylane4711 Sun 09-Aug-20 10:45:18

I have been working in a very busy call centre with little social distancing being observed and no known CV cases so I am totally confused regarding the potential spread of the virus indoors.

Juicylucy Sun 09-Aug-20 10:49:57

We’ve not ventured in to a pub or pub garden as not ready for that yet. I’ve seen lots of greetings like that between people, i think it’s a generation thing it seems the younger you are, the more relaxed they are regarding what to do and not do.

Bumpsy Sun 09-Aug-20 10:50:30

We have been careful as a couple. We have met up with friends but socially distanced and we wear masks and wash/sanitised our hands often when out. But we have been seeing our 2 GS (aged 6 and 4). They have lived in a small flat through all this. We did our own risk assessment and felt as their parents are also sensible it was a risk we were willing to take. The positive improvement to our and the grandsons mental health has been worth it. Also a break for their exhausted parents!

Kim19 Sun 09-Aug-20 11:06:01

Maybe they were already part of the same bubble? Apart from the age you suggest that could easily have been me with a relative or friend.
.

GoldenAge Sun 09-Aug-20 11:14:05

Hebdenali - I agree ... the long term effects of this isolation and loss of physical contact are only just emerging - we are seeing huge mental health issues and a hug is not the same as a full on kiss - there is of course always the possibility that two women hugging in a beer garden were in a family bubble - we do have to be sensible here and actually it might be that if we don’t take the opportunity to hug now as long as we’re in a place where the R is low or non-existent as it is in many places, and we restrict it to those we know to be ‘safe’ we may not get it for another year or longer - we have to learn to live with COVID and make life as comfortable emotionally for us as we can.

Gwenisgreat1 Sun 09-Aug-20 11:25:37

Indeed a difficult one. It all depends on their relationship. The only ones I have cuddled in Lockdown have been DH and more recently GC. I know of the damaging effects of no human contact. When my GS went to school during lockdown, he was distraught when DD went to pick him up because no one was able to give him a cuddle! He has Down syndrome and cuddling him is part of who he is!!

Aepgirl Sun 09-Aug-20 11:26:06

I am allowed cuddles from my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, but nobody else - and they only cuddle me. I have a friend who considers it OK to have her 3 children, all who live in different houses, and her son’s in laws, in her garden as they don’t have physical contact - oh, and when it rained, they all went on her house!

Caro57 Sun 09-Aug-20 11:41:10

Maybe they were spouses and were meeting for a drink After a day apart and before going Home together........

Teetime Sun 09-Aug-20 11:46:45

Yes we do hug immediate family, we dont see each other that often anyway and the day may come when we dont see each other at all then we will be sorry we didn't do it.

Georgesgran Sun 09-Aug-20 11:50:04

I’ve been very careful because of DHs illness - but (mentioned this before) attended a very sad funeral early on during Covid and as soon as I appeared, the deceased’s father, step-mum and one of his brothers threw themselves at me, sobbing onto my shoulder. All I can add is I’m still here to tell the tale and I couldn’t possibly have fended them off. X

NemosMum Sun 09-Aug-20 12:04:46

Agree with Hebdenali. Really, you should concentrate on your own hygiene measures, get on with your OWN life and please don't worry about what other people do.

Mooney59 Sun 09-Aug-20 12:12:40

Yes. Please get over this policing other people. Do what you feel is right and let others get on with their lives. Try not to be constantly finding fault with others it’s not good for YOUR health

grandtanteJE65 Sun 09-Aug-20 12:18:44

Yes, unfortunately, many people are ignoring the restrictions, which may be the reason for new outbreaks.

In your place, I would have assumed that the two young women you saw were members of the same household.

Kate1949 Sun 09-Aug-20 12:27:23

We don't hug immediate family at the moment. It's not safe for them or us. We know how we feel about each other. There's no need for hugging for a while. To be honest, before the pandemic the whole hugging thing had got out of hand. I used to get hugged by people I hardly knew. I didn't like it.