Social distancing in England

You are right.social distancing is a joke. Pubs are full. Pavement cafés with Tables about two feet apart.shops full and no masks requested.

Definitely plenty of social distancing at home in my home town.
This week we are in Cornwall and all seems to be in order re. distancing.

A joke here in Wales too. Some are complying but most act as though there is no pandemic. Very worrying. I would like face masks to be compulsory in all indoor spaces. I wish the powers that be would be more forceful in their messages.
They just need to say
Wear a mask to protect everybody.
Stay two metres apart to protect everybody.
Wash your hands to protect everybody.
Pick up your litter to protect everybody.
Don't be a selfish idiot, show concern for everybody.

I've only been outside once since mid March. There was social distancing in the garden centre, but not in the streets or the supermarket. I've seen photos of the local market and there was no social distancing or wearing of masks.

I won't be going out again until the transmission rate comes right down.

I live in NW London and social distancing at the local pub is non existent- they appear to be carrying on as before the lockdown with men spilling on to the street.

It makes a mockery of the fish and chip shop a few doors away who are very good, one in and the remainder queuing outside more than 2 metres apart.

The vast majority do not care it would seem.

I have been out tonight for a meal for my birthday today.
I haven’t been out since early March.
Everything was so well organised, I was very impressed and very comfortable.
The staff were very impressive in everything they did and taxis were well organised with Perspex shields and masks.

I can find no fault with my experience.

Charleygirl5

I live in NW London and social distancing at the local pub is non existent- they appear to be carrying on as before the lockdown with men spilling on to the street.

It makes a mockery of the fish and chip shop a few doors away who are very good, one in and the remainder queuing outside more than 2 metres apart.

The vast majority do not care it would seem.

The pictures I have seen in regard to drinking in the streets adjacent to pubs etc in recent days, there are as many women involved in the lack of social distancing as men.

Peardrop50

A joke here in Wales too. Some are complying but most act as though there is no pandemic. Very worrying. I would like face masks to be compulsory in all indoor spaces. I wish the powers that be would be more forceful in their messages.
They just need to say
Wear a mask to protect everybody.
Stay two metres apart to protect everybody.
Wash your hands to protect everybody.
Pick up your litter to protect everybody.
Don't be a selfish idiot, show concern for everybody.

Good post, Peardrop. If only HMG guidance were so concise.

We are beginning to venture out again with caution and the majority of our experience has been positive. People trying to be careful, leaving space for others. I’d be more confident if face coverings were mandatory in shops.

From my observations, it's more an age related, as to how seriously the distancing is taken. I've lost count of the number of times, younger couples coming towards us on pavements, don't make any attempt to fall into single file to pass, leaving us to step into the road, on one occasion not being able to do that because the road was too busy so had to enter the private parking space at the front of a house to avoid a couple who continued two abreast holding hands.

Surrey is on our doorstep, we drove down to Haslemere and surrounding countryside on Saturday, passed a lot of pubs with gardens, people were spaced out there. We did have an outside coffee on the high street. Generally everyone was careful to avoid each other. I certainly wouldn't venture up into central London at the moment and from footage on television, demonstrations and drinking out side pubs etc., social distance isn't evident. I also wish face coverings were mandatory in shops.

I have been out several times in the last week, to a gastropub pub, two restaurants and a coffee shop. Social distancing was very much evident, tables 2M (and more on 2 occasions) staff with face shields they took our details on arrival tables were cleaned between customers and hand sanitiser everywhere.

When walking people are respectful of each other's personal space as they are in the local shops and even in the busier pubs it's table service only and you have to book a table.

P.S. i a man in S E Essex

I'm not so sure it's an aged related thing TerriBull. We live in a town where the majority of people are retired/older, (we are younger than most). Time and time again we have had to move off the pavement or stand back in shops because they are not social distancing. I've yet to work out whether they have forgotten, whether they think they own the place or whether they simply don't care anymore?

GrannyGravy13 Does you post above say that you are a man in SE Essex? It wasn't very clear.

Elegran

GrannyGravy13 Does you post above say that you are a man in SE Essex? It wasn't very clear.

I can assure you that I am all woman

I only know about the busier pubs as several of our friends are publicans

GrannyGravy13

Elegran

GrannyGravy13 Does you post above say that you are a man in SE Essex? It wasn't very clear.

I can assure you that I am ^all woman^

So what does i a man in S E Essex mean? (your post at 07:54:49 today). I was confused too!

Seems to be good where we are. We’re still just about able to cycle on the roads that would normally be too busy.

In a crisis, and this pandemic is certainly that, people need clear , firm leadership to direct procedures.

In a traffic accident you would not want the emergency services saying " just use your common sense" . You need them to take contol, to help the injured & to prevent further injuries.

It does not suit the style of the current government to issue directives. Otherwise they would have to take responsibility for the outcomes. Failure to act clearly and assertively enables any blame to be laid at others doorsteps.

Bathsheba

GrannyGravy13

Elegran

GrannyGravy13 Does you post above say that you are a man in SE Essex? It wasn't very clear.

I can assure you that I am ^all woman^

So what does i a man in S E Essex mean? (your post at 07:54:49 today). I was confused too!

Should have read I am in S E Essex I obviously did not check before posted........sorry

It does not suit the style of the current government to issue directives.
To an extent I agree PECS, but neither does it suit the style of many Britains to follow directives. I was surprised how more compliant the people of Spain and France were when they were told what to do. Maybe it was the manner of the delivery if the directives.

Exactly! It is any governments' first duty to protect its citizens. In whatever way possible. My kids would have loved chocolate cake every day for breakfast but I had to be in charge and say no!

Ellianne

^It does not suit the style of the current government to issue directives.^
To an extent I agree PECS, but neither does it suit the style of many Britains to follow directives. I was surprised how more compliant the people of Spain and France were when they were told what to do. Maybe it was the manner of the delivery if the directives.

British people are notoriously ‘bolshie’ about following rules, unlike Germany, Spain and almost anywhere else in Europe.
I did think it would be better for all to use masks in shops, but reading about it now am not so sure.Mask wearing can lead to over confidence ( lack of distancing) damp unhygienic masks and constant fiddling and touching of masks.The ‘science’ is very divided about them.

Yes PECS to ptotect all its citizens, and also the strangers within its gates.

"All" includes the old and vulnerable in care homes after their productive life is over, the essential workers who have more need of PPE than the friends of those in high places have need of lucrative government contracts, and even the rich and powerful, who sometimes must be protected from the consequences of their own folly and hubris and reminded that they are living under the same rules as the rest of the country.