Social distancing.

I KNEW it would be busy. I just thought people would be respectful of each other. And didn’t expect to be forced into a busy road by a group of people that could have moved over and not taken up the whole pavement. And we weren’t even in the centre of the town village where, or so I’ve been, told the one way system is totally ignored. I was pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago whilst driving to the vets, to see many people wearing masks in the street. As I don’t go out very often when I do venture forth I’m very aware of how things are changing regarding the pandemic. From what I saw yesterday the general opinion seems to be that the pandemic is over. And it isn’t.

MayBee70 I completely agree with you. Why do people think that because the towns are packed, it’s ok the let distancing slip?!? It’s completely NOT ok. The rules are there for good reason. Some people are so selfish! With the family of 6 for instance, they should have gone single file so you didn’t have to go into the road to keep your distance. Some people rile and astonish me!

No the pandemic isn’t over and we’ve already been warned that the relaxation of some restrictions this week will lead to an increase in cases. Yes people should be mindful of others when they go out and hopefully there will be more reminders from the government to that effect. I believe however that we can’t go on forever as we have been for the past year. If we do there will be no shops, cafes or restaurants to go back to. Some on here may say that they don’t care about that but as most of these businesses were successful before the pandemic that clearly isn’t the view of the vast majority. I have relatives who own a bar and restaurant. It provides the income for 3 households, 2 with young children. I don’t know how they have managed during the past year. We’ve now entered a time of “live and let live” and if you have the luxury of being able to stay away from others then enjoy it. We’re not all in that position.

I don't intend going into town for a while. Will let it all settle down. I have my second jab on Saturday. Problem is that all these people out and about are mainly younger than 50 and have not had even the first vaccine. I see a spike happening in 2 or 3 weeks....

I think I know what you mean MayBee, with so many people now jabbed I reckon a lot of people do think it is over and lets face it you don't need a pandemic to get pushed off the pavement.A friend said to me that she felt the atmosphere in our town was very jumpy, people wary of each other in large numbers, however, this didn't stop an enormous queue at Primark. I shall start going out when the schools go back and everyone has spent their savings.

I agree with MayBee70 that many people are now ignoring social distancing and that concerns me. I worry that there will be a repeat of last year, a few weeks of low infection rates then back to rising numbers and lockdown again. I know that over half the population have been vaccinated now but the scientists are not sure if the vaccines stop us catching/spreading the virus or just reduce its severity on us making it less likely that we need to go to hospital. Also many of the photos of people crammed outside pubs on Monday night were of young adults, most of whom won’t have been vaccinated yet anyway.

Personally I will be following all the restrictions and social distancing rules, I will continue using click and collect for my food, only go to shops later afternoon when it’s quieter and socialise outside or possibly indoors ( when allowed) with lots of ventilation. That is my choice and I will try not to get upset when I see other people behaving differently - that is their choice.

I live alone with no significant health worries other than very restricted mobility due to arthritis and I’m a bit paranoid about catching Covid as I don’t know how I could look after myself! I don’t have anyone to get my shopping or provide drinks or meals if I were really poorly so I’m trying to create a safe zone around me!

However, it was lovely to drive through our shopping area on Monday to go to the hairdresser ( a very Covid safe experience) and see a few more people walking around the shops and looking pleased to be there. Fewer people than before the pandemic and well spaced out but it made me feel happy.

I haven't been to any shops other than the supermarket as usual, which was the usual 50/50 mix of people leaning over me to get items from the shelves, and others who politely asked, or moved back if I asked. I 'm not going to do 'social' shopping, eg browsing until masks are not required, and tbh, I think mask wearing has made people much more careless about social distancing, as they think masks protect them. Add to the mix that a large portion of the population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and I think all the carefulness will be gradually wearing off, particularly now that everyone is feeling so thankful /desperate to be getting back out to a semblance of our previous lives.

Where I live we have had both of the Pfizer vaccine. Cases have gone down by 97% and the only people who are still contracting it are those unvaccinated. However, it's only now in the small hundreds opposed to the thousands. Distance is pretty irrelevant and so are masks and hand washing. It's passed by droplets in the air in very close proximity. A little common sense and the same risk as going out of your front door into the street.

This morning for a change I drove to a small town about 15 miles away. It was pleasantly busy but not crowded, as the schools have gone back. I did not go into any shops but on the pavements everyone was behaving as I expected and keeping a safe distance, as they do in my small home town.
I am delaying going anywhere that is likely to be busy, for a while longer.

I'm very uncomfortable when people bet too close.

bet ........get

That’s good to know, Cabbie. It just worried me yesterday that all social distancing rules had fallen by the wayside.

The social distancing rule is still in place and although the chances of passing on the virus outside are slim the rules is still in place and people should be mindful of it when out and about. Of course there were people out and about but they should still be careful. When I go walking locally I often end up walking in the road, on the grass verge etc to avoid those who are too ignorant to adhere to the spacing guidelines. If it’s an elderly person, or someone with a pushchair and young children then of course I’m happy to do it but thank you would be appreciated. We should have all learnt by now that this virus doesn’t just go away - we need to be careful still even if we’re fed up.

I keep hearing, on social media, people complaining about the crowds out shopping and in parks and beauty spots. Do they not realise that they are one of those people. It happens on bank holidays too when people moan about sitting in traffic, they are part of that traffic.

Not reffering to OP here.

I don't know the ins and out of the British restrictions, but here even although more shops are able to be open, we have to observe the two metres distance and wear a mask in the shops.

Some people are forgetful about this, and have to be reminded politely.

If you want to go to the hairdresser, you need to show proof of a negative test taken withing the last 24 hours, unless you have had both vaccinations and can prove that.

It is not unreasonable to expect people to adhere to the rules. The difficulty is knowing what they are, as they change all the time!

In my mind there are too many people not social distancing. The jab isn't 100%. There are too many variants of which we don't know enough about.
The world has changed and we need to change with it and for it.
Another surge will surely come if we are stupid enough to think that because we are 'allowed out that the virus has magically disappeared

MayBee70
from what I can see we will all be back to square one etc
So all that work done to produce the vaccines and administer them was a waist of time and money then.
What do you think a vaccination does?

I’ve never worn a mask outdoors, just keep away from others. But I live in a small market town, never crowded outside, no big shops.

It’s been fine. No desire to go to our nearest city or big shops.

Maybe you're not alone as you can see. We do need to be careful although I think keeping a distance is safe enough without a mask.
"Live and let live" as someone suggested is not the way. But because some are selfish you just need to make sure you taks care of yourself.

MerylStreep

MayBee70
from what I can see we will all be back to square one etc
So all that work done to produce the vaccines and administer them was a waist of time and money then.
What do you think a vaccination does?

It protects most people from catching the virus. Those that do catch it will probably not die from it. It probably reduces transmission but the new variants are becoming more and more transmissible. We do not know if the vaccines protect from the Nigerian variant. We have to make sure the new variants dingy start spreading in the community. We still have to do everything possible and stay one step ahead of the virus. The vaccine does not mean that we can drop our guard. Now that us older people have been vaccinated we must think of younger people that haven’t and mustn’t become complacent. imo

I am not sure it is complacency. I am not sure it is even selfishness.
Humans tend to forget and move on quickly, especially in this day and age. For many, younger people in particular, this pandemic is just a passing thing.

I just think there’s a lack of respect from so many people. And if you move out of the way of someone no acknowledgement from people. Just sometimes a quizzical ‘why are you doing that’ look. Although a young lad who was walking behind me when I had to stop to pick up the dog poo(they never let you down, dogs, do they) paused and didn’t walk past me. I was quite touched by that. My daughter has taught her two boys to give people space.

I wouldn’t have gone shopping this week, but the last two weekends we have gone for a walk at the seaside. The first week we went to our nearest beach, not especially nice, but we thought we ought to stay in the county. Despite a really wide promenade and a vast beach, it was incredibly crowded, absolutely no social distancing going on.
Last weekend we went a bit further to a much smaller place, again busy, but definitely not so crowded.
On neither occasion was I worried, we were in the fresh air, and what a joy it was to smell that sea air again, and watch children paddling and building sandcastles. I don’t intend to go mad, but I’m definitely going to start going out and about a bit more.

It is lovely to see the children on the beach.

Maybee
That reminded me, on our first seaside visit my grandson trod in some dogs mess on the promenade, not everyone is as vigilant as you.
That was disgusting, it spoiled the day for him, and as none of us had the stomach to clean them, we had to throw his shoes away, and buy him some flip flops.
Sorry, gone off subject, but it really annoyed me.