How much longer will social distancing go on for in the UK?

[johnnychips]

I think in those establishments you may have to be quite rich to have fifteen minutes of close contact. I hope the girls keep the money put in their underwear in a box for three days

 

[trebor79]

I think in those establishments you may have to be quite rich to have fifteen minutes of close contact. I hope the girls keep the money put in their underwear in a box for three days

Doesn't work like that, I dimly recall having to buy tokens from the bar which you gave to the girl, who handed them straight back in to the bar. And bottles of "champagne" which tasted suspiciously like carbonated sugar water laced with vodka.
Horrible places, I discovered afterwards that the particular establishment was being chased by HMRC for a few million pounds of unpaid VAT. That was why they had brought the token thing in, claiming it was currency exchange and therefore not subject to VAT... I think the taxman as saying "hmmm, nice try but no banana".
We digress. Maybe I'll have to do some important research on how they have made the experience "covid secure"

 

[Huntergreed]

We digress. Maybe I'll have to do some important research on how they have made the experience "covid secure"

Sounds like a good excuse for a forum meet

However I must admit, from my observations in Glasgow and my personal experiences, nobody gives a hoot about keeping their distance anymore apart from where it’s enforced (and in some situations, even where it’s enforced!)

 

[C J Snarzell]

Sounds like a good excuse for a forum meet

However I must admit, from my observations in Glasgow and my personal experiences, nobody gives a hoot about keeping their distance anymore apart from where it’s enforced (and in some situations, even where it’s enforced!)

Does Ma'am Sturgeon know what's going on in Glasgow? She like the tirant headmistress I had in my infant school in the 1980s (only uglier).

CJ

 

[Huntergreed]

Does Ma'am Sturgeon know what's going on in Glasgow? She like the tirant headmistress I had in my infant school in the 1980s (only uglier).

One watch of her briefinga suggests you me she still thinks the “vast majority” (as she calls it) are abiding by the “FACTS” guidance (Face coverings, Avoid crowded places, Clean your hands and surfaces obsessively, Two Meter distancing and Self isolate if you get symptoms)

She’s quite out of touch with reality

 

[43066]

From my observations people are now largely abandoning social distance and are going back to normal in most settings. The only exceptions are obvious health obsessive/paranoiacs. It’s pretty obvious that any semblance of normality is going to be impossible with social distancing in place.

We were initially told that face coverings would make it possible to resume life in situations where social distancing was impossible, but that clearly isn’t the line being taken in most places, which is “masks plus social distancing” - the worst of all worlds.

 

[Class 33]

Does anyone else find the term "social distancing" irritating and meaningless?

Really the only impact of distancing now is the continued closure of certain sectors of the economy, and other sectors running with limited capacity, which makes them borderline unviable.

Yes, hearing the term "Social distancing" and it's counterparts "Socially distancing" and "Socially distanced" absolutely countless times on the news absolutely infuriates me. When I know any of these terms are about to mentioned, I try to mute the sound to blank it out, though a lot of times I'm not quick enough. These terms now are just incredibly grating. We've been hearing these terms now for FIVE MONTHS now. And there's still no end in sight really, even with such a low number of daily deaths and hospital admissions now. It defies belief it really does.

What I find particularly irritating is when news readers/news reporters happily mention about all these growing number of activities/events now with a "Socially distanced" prefix to them, as though it's trendy and fashionable now. Such as socially distanced street bingo, socially distanced barbecue, socially distanced orchestra, socially distanced theatre performance, socially distanced pub quiz, etc, etc. The list just goes on and on. Yet in the meantime whilst all these "socially distanced" events/activities are jollily and proudly being introduced and taking part, the VERY SERIOUS implications of this seemingly never ending social distancing is that there have been(and will continue to be) thousands upon thousands of jobs cuts, thousands of companies closing down, thousands upon thousands of people becoming unemployed(and VERY LITTLE chance of finding other work because there's very little even being advertised), and effecting the mental health of thousands upon thousands of people. This will just get increasingly worst and worst the longer this "Social distancing" nonsense drags on for. This is certainly no laughing matter. And this "social distancing" insanity and madness has to end sooner rather than later, for the sake of this country. GET BRITAIN GREAT AGAIN.

There was some hope that this may finally end in November, according to what Boris mentioned in his press conference last month. But then only a week or two later in an interview he then mentions "We may be able to relax restrictions around the middle of next year."!!!!! What are we to believe??!! There's just no way this madness and insanity can drag on until the middle of next year!!!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2020 ==

I think it's a good point to raise about the planning of public events. Just because, a Christmas event is cancelled does not necessarily mean that we will be subject to strong social distancing measures at Crimbo - it's all to do with the timescale involved in preparing these events. However, my guess is we will still be subject to certain restrictions by December.

Next years London Marathon has been delayed from April until October. The planning involved in organising something so huge takes months of leg work. Clearly event organisers are forecasting when it would be sensible to hold a crowded event. It doesn't necessarily mean we will be subject to social distancing by April 2021 - the organisers of the Marathon don't want to start planning something only for all the hard work & effort to go up in smoke if virus cases are still breaking out in early 2021.

CJ

I think even though it's now just over 7 months until the start of next year's festival season, that all the festivals going ahead next year as hoped for - is still VERY iffy at this stage. The festival organisers would need to know at least 2 or 3 months before their intended festival, whether they can definitely go ahead or not and having to announce the cancellation. For some festivals, it may be a lot more than 3 months in advance they need to know if they can go ahead or not. I read that Michael and Emily Eavis of Glastonbury festival would need to know by next March if they can go ahead with the festival in June. I'm surprised that they don't need more notice than 3 months really, given the size of the festival, the thousands of crew required, and how much organising this all takes. It doesn't surprise me too much that the organisers of some of next year's intended festivals have already decided to cancel several months in advance, because of the uncertainty of the Coronavirus situation, and how much longer these social distancing guidelines and bans on mass gatherings are going to drag on for.

I'm not too confident that social distancing is going to be scrapped by the end of this year, even though the numbers of daily deaths, hospital admissions and people in ventilators beds now being very very low. The government don't seem to be taking much notice of this, and are taking too much notice of the increase in numbers of new cases(due to the significant increase in daily testing!). I think they're going to unnecessarily drag this nonsense on and on into at least early next year unfortunately, which means it will be cutting it very fine on whether next year's summer festivals will go ahead or whether like this year the festival season will be a complete write off again. Personally I think it's currently only about a 50/50 chance there will be a festival season next year. Going to festivals are good for mental health, and it will be a great shame if we're not able to goto any again next year!

It is possible that when the government do eventually scrap social distancing, they may however keep the ban on mass gatherings(as in proper mass gatherings of hundreds or thousands of people, not like currently where they consider any more than 30 people at some event to be a mass gathering!) going for some while longer. Meaning festivals would still not be allowed to go ahead. But venues like shops, restaurants, gyms, spas, etc could operate as normal again without social distancing requirements.

 

[Journeyman]

Sadly, I think you're right - I'm meant to be at a festival this coming weekend, and they cancelled it as late as possible (April), but right now I'd say next year is looking somewhat problematic at least, especially if international travel is still restricted, and at worst it's a complete no-hoper. Sadly I think it's the latter. It's at the medium size for music festivals, but two years cancellation would ruin the organisers' finances, and consign to history an event that's been going since 1974.

 

[Class 33]

Sadly, I think you're right - I'm meant to be at a festival this coming weekend, and they cancelled it as late as possible (April), but right now I'd say next year is looking somewhat problematic at least, especially if international travel is still restricted, and at worst it's a complete no-hoper. Sadly I think it's the latter. It's at the medium size for music festivals, but two years cancellation would ruin the organisers' finances, and consign to history an event that's been going since 1974.

Which festival is that?

Michael and Emily Eavis also said that if next year's Glastonbury has to be cancelled, then they'll go bankrupt, and that will be the end of Glastonbury. A festival that has been going since 1970.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Which festival is that?

Michael and Emily Eavis also said that if next year's Glastonbury has to be cancelled, then they'll go bankrupt, and that will be the end of Glastonbury. A festival that has been going since 1970.

I think he's cruising for money to be honest. He's filthy rich, he can afford it.

 

[Journeyman]

Which festival is that?

Greenbelt. It's pretty unusual, and it would be quite a major loss if it went under.

I think he's cruising for money to be honest. He's filthy rich, he can afford it.

Yeah. If there was even the slightest hint of it going under, he'd be swamped with donations to save it.

 

[Iskra]

From my observations people are now largely abandoning social distance and are going back to normal in most settings. The only exceptions are obvious health obsessive/paranoiacs. It’s pretty obvious that any semblance of normality is going to be impossible with social distancing in place.

We were initially told that face coverings would make it possible to resume life in situations where social distancing was impossible, but that clearly isn’t the line being taken in most places, which is “masks plus social distancing” - the worst of all worlds.

I agree. Meadowhall is like being back to normal and people seem puzzled by the measures that they were okay with 3 weeks back. The amount of people that can't follow the 3-foot wide, bright blue arrows indicating the one way system is unbelievable.

 

[johnnychips]

I agree. Meadowhall is like being back to normal and people seem puzzled by the measures that they were okay with 3 weeks back. The amount of people that can't follow the 3-foot wide, bright blue arrows indicating the one way system is unbelievable.

Not ‘can’t follow’ but ‘don’t see the point in following’.

 

[Cowley]

Not ‘can’t follow’ but ‘don’t see the point in following’.

I think sometimes there’s a bit of a case of ‘sign overload’.
If you’ve spent hours going into different places and everywhere has different signage - some on the floor, some on signs, some on the door going in, some with all three and more etc... It can get a bit disorientating.
I walked out of Toolstation in the wrong direction earlier because I just followed someone else out like a sheep.

 

[ChrisC]

I walked out of Toolstation in the wrong direction earlier because I just followed someone else out like a sheep.

I had a lovely relaxing week in a small hotel in North Yorkshire recently. It was only on the final morning when I went to reception to hand in my key card and pay the bill that I saw some signs and realised that for a whole week at breakfast I had been ignoring the one way system and had been entering the dining room by the exit.

 

[Yew]

I had a lovely relaxing week in a small hotel in North Yorkshire recently. It was only on the final morning when I went to reception to hand in my key card and pay the bill that I saw some signs and realised that for a whole week at breakfast I had been ignoring the one way system and had been entering the dining room by the exit.

You do realise that it's certain that you will have caught coronavirus and will die now?

 

[Cowley]

I had a lovely relaxing week in a small hotel in North Yorkshire recently. It was only on the final morning when I went to reception to hand in my key card and pay the bill that I saw some signs and realised that for a whole week at breakfast I had been ignoring the one way system and had been entering the dining room by the exit.

Yep that’s the kind of thing I’d do.
Maybe if they put motorway signage up I’d find it easier.

 

[Journeyman]

You do realise that it's certain that you will have caught coronavirus and will die now?

Absolutely. Everyone knows the virus only travels in one direction!

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Absolutely. Everyone knows the virus only travels in one direction!

I thought they’d all gone solo?

 

[Journeyman]

I thought they’d all gone solo?

Boom boom!

 

[yorkie]

Sweden is not a densely populated country which could be factor in why they're doing well compared....

Please! If you are going to make comparisons, compare rural areas of Sweden with rural areas of Britain. If you are going to make urban comparisons, then look at Stockholm and cities in Britain.

Given Chris Witty is talking about hoping to have a vaccine by the winter of 2021-22..... might be time to shutter them all and quit lying to the public.

That's an absurd thing to say; if it is going to be that long (it should be a year before that!) then we may as well get back to normal now, and just accept people are going to get the virus.

I have zero respect for anything he says now.

The only reason for keeping social distancing into the New Year is if a vaccine is due then, and if the death rate is higher than looks likely to be the case, and if immunity is lower than recent studies have suggested.

Otherwise the whole thing is quite frankly absurd.

 

[Yew]

The only reason for keeping social distancing into the New Year is if a vaccine is due then, and if the death rate is higher than looks likely to be the case, and if immunity is lower than recent studies have suggested.

It does seem interesting that we don't look to use a "reasonable worst case scenario" for vaccine production, Which could easily head out into tens of years.

 

[bramling]

From my observations people are now largely abandoning social distance and are going back to normal in most settings. The only exceptions are obvious health obsessive/paranoiacs. It’s pretty obvious that any semblance of normality is going to be impossible with social distancing in place.

We were initially told that face coverings would make it possible to resume life in situations where social distancing was impossible, but that clearly isn’t the line being taken in most places, which is “masks plus social distancing” - the worst of all worlds.

I’m picking up the same “had enough” vibe. My place had a properly defective train earlier, and after making some effort to do distancing it essentially broke down, with everyone pretty much mutually taking the same line of “look we’re all totally sick of this, just crack on, we’re all sensible people so hopefully none of us has it, and if we do we’re highly likely to be ok”.

Try moving a sick train from the rear cab in reverse, having to speak to signaller in the process, half a dozen mobile calls coming in from people who want to know what’s going on or think they have a better way of resolving the situation, a train in total darkness so you’re all having to rely on handlamps to see what you’re doing, *and* distancing at the same time. Unfortunately it’s just not viable, with the best will in the world.

 

[brad465]

I’m picking up the same “had enough” vibe. My place had a properly defective train earlier, and after making some effort to do distancing it essentially broke down, with everyone pretty much mutually taking the same line of “look we’re all totally sick of this, just crack on, we’re all sensible people so hopefully none of us has it, and if we do we’re highly likely to be ok”.

Try moving a sick train from the rear cab in reverse, having to speak to signaller in the process, half a dozen mobile calls coming in from people who want to know what’s going on or think they have a better way of resolving the situation, a train in total darkness so you’re all having to rely on handlamps to see what you’re doing, *and* distancing at the same time. Unfortunately it’s just not viable, with the best will in the world.

As we approach the winter any widespread extreme weather will also make social distancing unviable: for example if the flooding of the last winter is repeated widespread aid and/or evacuations will be hampered by social distancing. Over the other side of the pond right now the Southern states have to try and do all that with Hurricane Laura bearing down.

We've been relatively lucky so far through the pandemic to not have had much going on in terms of major disruption/disaster from other things, but that won't last forever, and ultimately there will be events in future where social distancing will have to come second.

 

[bramling]

As we approach the winter any widespread extreme weather will also make social distancing unviable: for example if the flooding of the last winter is repeated widespread aid and/or evacuations will be hampered by social distancing. Over the other side of the pond right now the Southern states have to try and do all that with Hurricane Laura bearing down.

We've been relatively lucky so far through the pandemic to not have had much going on in terms of major disruption/disaster from other things, but that won't last forever, and ultimately there will be events in future where social distancing will have to come second.

Yes absolutely so. At present we have one subset of the population that recognise we simply have to crack on and do our best, another subset who are supposedly too scared to do anything, and another subset who possibly have more cause to be scared because they’re actually at high risk.

The simple reality is that if everyone took the second of those positions then we’d have no food on the table, no health service, no nothing.

I’m all for distancing when it’s feasible to achieve it, but we simply can’t expect it to happen 100% of the time, and masks are simply useless in many scenarios. The simple reality is 100% distancing will mean life stops.

 

[43066]

Yes absolutely so. At present we have one subset of the population that recognise we simply have to crack on and do our best, another subset who are supposedly too scared to do anything, and another subset who possibly have more cause to be scared because they’re actually at high risk.

Indeed. Those of us in the first subset are getting increasingly fed up with those in the second, and the way the government seems to be pandering to them.

 

[Westcountryman]

Indeed. Those of us in the first subset are getting increasingly fed up with those in the second, and the way the government seems to be pandering to them.

There is a fourth subset, those that believe it doesn't exist and that there is no need to do anything. And a fifth subset who believe that it is a plot by the government to restrict their civil liberties. And a sixth subset who don't care because they are young, it is mild, they won't be badly affected and s*d everyone else. And probably more.

 

[43066]

There is a fourth subset, those that believe it doesn't exist and that there is no need to do anything. And a fifth subset who believe that it is a plot by the government to restrict their civil liberties. And a sixth subset who don't care because they are young, it is mild, they won't be badly affected and s*d everyone else. And probably more.

Worth remembering it *is* mild for the overwhelming majority of sufferers of all ages, akin to the flu.

We don’t trash our economy, cause the worst recession since records began, and condemn hundreds of thousands to a premature death every flu season. But s*d cancer patients and suicide victims - Covid deaths are all that matter.

 

[Yew]

Unfortunately, there is the old saying that "what gets measured gets done" and currently the COVID figures are plastered all over the papers.

 

[bramling]

There is a fourth subset, those that believe it doesn't exist and that there is no need to do anything. And a fifth subset who believe that it is a plot by the government to restrict their civil liberties. And a sixth subset who don't care because they are young, it is mild, they won't be badly affected and s*d everyone else. And probably more.

Whilst I don’t doubt that there is truth to this, I think these positions are outliers, and are all very niche. The majority of people I think fit into the three boxes I suggested.

I doubt there are that many people that don’t care at all. I certainly do, however at the same time I recognise a need to be realistic, in the same way that there’s elements of risk present in most everyday activities.