Allow family members who live in different houses to meet

I believe the first phase of lifting the lockdown must be to allow us all to meet our loved ones who live in different houses. For almost 7 weeks, parents haven’t seen their adult children; grandparents haven’t seen their grandchildren; partners who live apart haven’t seen each other.

Of course we need to try to adhere to social distancing rules for the meantime and we need to continue regularly hand-washing and being mindful of this terrible virus, but we also need to see those we love! None of us knows how long we have on this Earth and especially for the very elderly, this enforced separation from their families must be miserable and filled with longing to see their families again. Some must be wondering if they will live to see their children and grandchildren again.

Please, First Minister, before politics, before the economy, before education, even before health and safety, comes love, hope and family. Allow us all to see our nearest and dearest again.

Why the contribution is important

Because allowing us to see our family members again whilst adhering to social distancing and using the track and trace technology of an app would not be high risk and should not raise the R level significantly. However, it would dramatically change the experience of lockdown for almost everyone. People would feel much happier, the mental health of the nation would improve and all the most important aspects of life would be able to resume despite the continuing risk from the virus. People don’t want to risk their loved ones’ health so they would stay 2 metres away but they need to be allowed to meet and see each other.

by JMLGrant on May 06, 2020 at 03:26PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.8
Based on: 52 votes

Comments

  • Posted by GeoC May 06, 2020 at 17:48

    Although it may put older family members at some risk, I think it is very important that if possible visiting household with in the family is extremely important particularly for the memntal well being of grandparents and young children. The nescerary seperation has been one of the cruelest aspects as this crisis. For the older generation these times are particularly prescious.
    To enable this other controls may have to more severe - restriction of bridges of infection through paarents work etc but hopefully some flexibility can be built in balanced against risk

  • Posted by kirbag May 06, 2020 at 17:56

    Completely agree, what am I allowed to stand in a supermarket queue 2 metres from a stranger for ages but I can’t sit in my mums garden. I think for the sake of everyones mental health we should be allowed to visit family members homes. Obviously restrict this to visits only & no wild parties or large gatherings. Wash your hands on entering & leaving.

  • Posted by Kit100 May 06, 2020 at 18:25

    I agree, a lot of people who live near family are already doing this and I can't because my elderly father lives an hour away.

    However, it would have to be done carefully because as soon as you say some people can meet, many will just see it as a lifting of the isolation policy. It would have to be enforced.

  • Posted by Krhj2020 May 06, 2020 at 18:35

    An agreement to allow you contact with a maximum of two households. That would allow to resume close contact with immediate family members. Perhaps not all but it would be a start back to the new normal

  • Posted by Jmccon May 06, 2020 at 19:00

    I care for my 92 year old mother. She has heart failure. I have isolated with her to protect her. I have postponed her carer and no one has entered the house. I do not want anyone Caring for my mother, giving her personal care who is not tested and is visiting others every day. My sister & brother are unable to visit and give me a break. I have no back up should I become ill that’s why I do not want to cancel her care completely. My mother is not even on the vulnerable list. I don’t know when we will have a normal life again. Or if she will see her family again. If she becomes more ill, That’s yet another worry. Please test carers... all of them.

  • Posted by Linda1566 May 06, 2020 at 19:11

    I would love to see my son his wife and my baby grand daughter it’s really not good being away from them for this long and agree with all the comments

  • Posted by mary May 06, 2020 at 20:04

    My daughter keeps asking when she can see her Granny and Grandad again. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.
    Completely agree with the idea of being allowed to visit, even if it is restricted to doorstep or Garden visits

  • Posted by AHunter May 06, 2020 at 20:24

    I think the idea of social bubbles to include family members, fiances, and other close people is a very important step going forward.

    Shared meals and sharing a car, for example, are going to be important in practical terms for making people reconnected with their families and loved ones.

  • Posted by nialson May 06, 2020 at 20:59

    I completely concur and further if none of the family show any symptoms for the previous 14 days then it should be ok to mix

  • Posted by jendojay May 07, 2020 at 11:08

    Social bubbles are a good idea but limiting them to your 'local area' as has been suggested will not help a lot of families who live some distance apart. I can completely understand that having people travel from one end of the country to the other is not safe but limiting contact within a small local area would seem pointless if social distancing was observed on any journey and visit. Not only pointless but potentially harmful to those of us with already fragile mental health. Not all families are lucky enough to live close by each other. I imagine there are lots of families like ours, living within an hours car journey, to whom being excluded from being able to do what other families, who happen to live close to each other can do, would test our, so far, complete adherence to government policies, way too far.

  • Posted by Shannonxo May 09, 2020 at 11:01

    Totally agree. I think we need to start allowing family from different households to reintegrate where possible. It is so important for mental health. We can sacrifice pubs, restaurants, gyms etc but family is non compromisable. I know that in my circumstances personally, I really need to see my mother. She has cancer and she may never see her grandson again if I can't see her soon. Even if we are allowed to see family but still social distance, that's better than nothing. Something needs to be done.
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