Hello OD, cant believe it was 2013 when i last ventured here. Glad to see your still going and now im 7 yrs older and probably no wiser looking forward getting OD 🙂

As I said on 07/06/20 in the 'Can walks resume?' thread, I could lead a socially-distanced walk (no more than six of us, obviously) around Reigate. If anyone is interested, please suggest a day and say how far you would like to walk.

It is very easy to lead a socially distanced walk. If there are more than 6 the group can be split and people tend to naturally social distance once the ground becomes steep. The chance of infection outside are very low anyway. No spikes from the Bournemouth beach invasions and the BLM protests. Most OD people are fit and healthy and as we have seen this virus has a tendency to act like hyenas on a herd of wildebeast. Remember if you aren't doing the things you enjoy then life isn't that much fun so better to live life to the full while you can, while of course acting responsibly so as not to risk infection.

You can of course have groups of up to 30 now. It's remarkable how fast this virus learns maths. Only a few weeks ago it could only count up to 6.

Government guidance for England (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do), updated yesterday, 13/08/20, includes the following (separate from any additional local restrictions): 'It remains the case that you should not:
. socialise indoors in groups of more than two households (anyone in your support bubble counts as one household) – this includes when dining out or going to the pub
. socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than six should only take place if everyone is from exclusively from two households or support bubbles'.

A document from the LDWA ( Social Walk Covid-19 FAQs ), dated 03/08/20, includes the following question and response:
'The Ramblers have just announced that in England they are now permitting 30 people to walk together. Why is the LDWA not doing this?
The LDWA NEC has kept in close contact with the Ramblers and was made aware that an application was going to be made to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in order to start social walks with a greater number of attendees. The NEC has engaged with the Local Groups representatives and there was no consensus to see social walk numbers increasing. … (Cont'd)

… (Cont'd) In addition, the NEC liaised with DCMS who clearly advised that an application by the LDWA as a National Governing Body would not be given accreditation. The NEC is now aware of further guidelines that might enable walking for up to 30 people to commence as a Community Activity. But, any decision taken will also need to be mindful of the ethical and moral responsibilities that come with enabling larger groups of people to walk together at a time when COVID infection rates are rising again.'

The larger the group, the greater the chance of there being someone present with the virus, and the more people there are to become infected.

M1960 . . . . . bored now . . . . . . . good luck with walking on your own . . . . . . . .👍

Taxi

https://youtu.be/CDAUb1rcs3w

The LDWA posted an update yesterday, 26/08/20, which includes the following:
'… Sport England and the LDWA Insurance Broker have read and accepted the LDWA's guidelines containing the principles and mitigating approaches which Local Groups must adopt for social walks in England with attendances of up to but not exceeding 30. … in England, if a walk leader wants to lead a group of more than six people, then they now need to complete a risk assessment. …'

Full details can be found here:
https://www.ldwa.org.uk/library/coronavirus2020.php

Government guidance still says what I posted on 14/08/20.

Hi everyone seems very quiet.. hope everyone is ok hopefully meet up soon and have a bloody good laugh.🤣🤣🤣

minty : Hi Larry, hope you are well, you have just missed two excellent weeks. Doug's in N. Wales and Mitch's in the Peaks. And I am sure Montie's would of been equally as good. 😎

In case anyone doesn't know about the upcoming change to English coronavirus legislation,
government guidance ( https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing ) published yesterday, 09/09/20, includes the following (separate from any additional local restrictions):
'From Monday 14 September, when meeting friends and family you do not live with you must not meet in a group of more than 6 indoors or outdoors. … it will be against the law to meet people you do not live with in a group larger than 6 (unless you are meeting as a household or support bubble).'

M1960. I believe most people in OD mastered the art of reading many years ago and can also access information off the computer. It is also different legislation for Wales, Scotland and NI. The virus obviously behaves differently if it crosses a border.

Lazlo Woodbine: I certainly use the ability to read that I learnt as a child, but only to read what I choose, and nothing from those I don't know or trust.

On 13/08/20, I offered to lead a walk in England, which led to further posts concerning the coronavirus restrictions therein. It is clear that what I posted on 10/09/20 applies to England, and I gave that update to avoid the risk, however small, of anyone being misled by out-of-date information in this thread.

Sorry M1960, I must have missed all the news about this splashed all over the TV, internet and newspaper for the past few days.

👏 Phil and Doug! Well said. Actually Mark1960 I think you'll find that organised health walking groups are exempt from the '6' rule. Hi check the ramblers website. They seem to think they are exempt and who says we are different? Just more fun! If they are exempt so are we!

I was aware of what is said on the Ramblers website,
and that the LDWA ( https://www.ldwa.org.uk/library/coronavirus2020.php?&hp=4219 ) posted an update on 11/09/20, which includes the following:
' … We have spoken to other organisations, including the Ramblers and Government bodies, and we are content that we are exempt from the limit of six people, so organised social walks of a larger number (up to and including 30 people) can continue in England as per our existing rules and risk assessment. … The limit of 6 people walking together in England remains though for when individuals meet privately or as friends, the 30-people limit is only for official LDWA social walks. …'

The OD website says:
'An Invitation is created by the poster. It is their invitation. They set the rules. They are the boss. We don't have anything to do with what is arranged, where and for whom. None of the invitations are "officially" sanctioned or vetted in any way by us.'

Apparently if you are a member of an organised group you can't catch Covid 19 unless there are more than 30. If you aren't it's more than 6. This virus is so smart it just knows. I can see the reason for the LDWA exemption as nobody ever talks to each other. 😀

The government guidance for England in the link which I posted on 10/09/20 has been updated today, 14/09/20, and confirms the situation – it lists exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people and these include:
'organised sport or exercises classes or licensed outdoor physical activity. This does not include informal sport or fitness activity with family or friends - this must be limited to a group of 6'.

The Ramblers (in Group walks FAQs at https://www.ramblers.org.uk/volunteer-zone/coronavirus/volunteering.aspx ) say:
'… We strongly recommend leaving a time gap between groups of at least 30 minutes.'

Rob68: Totally agree with that.

🤔 The Ramblers recommendation of leaving a time gap between groups of at least 30 minutes would be an effective way to prevent them from meeting each other at the start (which it seems to me could be the biggest logistical problem).

The English legislation ( https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/684/regulation/5 ) says:
'… no person may participate in a gathering which consists of more than six people … there is a gathering when two or more people are present together in the same place in order to engage in any form of social interaction with each other, or to undertake any other activity with each other'.

Far too much misleading information being circulated !
No restrictions on numbers here. https://www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk/articles/covid-19-update-14-september

Philtheetiler: 😂 Are you thinking of posting an invite for a shooting party? 😮👎

Exceptions are given after 'no person may participate in a gathering which consists of more than six people' in the legislation; see also my post of 14/09/20.
I have provided links for most of the quotes I have given, allowing people to read them in context (and to check for updates). Nonetheless, I thought that quoting just the definition of a gathering (two or more people ...) from the legislation might possibly lead to some confusion.

Rob68: 🙂

Thank you very much 👍🙂😀😎

Government guidance for local COVID alert levels in England, which were introduced today, 14/10/20, is provided here and gives the restrictions:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-levels-what-you-need-to-know

All areas of England are included, and there is a postcode search tool here:
https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions

Government guidance for the new national restrictions in England from 05/11/20 is given here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

I think some people need to get out more🙄🤸‍♂️

Government guidance for the local restriction tier system in England that will be in place from 02/12/20 is given here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know

A full list of local restriction tiers by area in England is given here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/full-list-of-local-restriction-tiers-by-area

and there is a postcode checker here:
https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions


Government guidance for making a Christmas bubble with friends and family is given here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family

M1960: I am fed up reading your guidance offers so please only send in pictures 😂

Tier 4 (a new tier which came into force in some areas of England at midnight) and changes to the English guidance for Christmas bubbles are included in the links I posted on 27/11/20.

Government guidance for the national lockdown in England announced today is given here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

The government has today published the 'COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021', setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021

Philthetiler do you actually read the guidances that he posts. I look and see who posted them and just move on.

Mitch: same as you Mitch.
I am as full of CV19 as I need to be, having been positive and had one jab.. Only room left for second jab.

The government guidance 'National lockdown: Stay at Home' for England has been replaced today by '(COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do':
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
This link can be used to find the latest restrictions and check progress in implementing the roadmap.

Poor me ☹ wee Nicola is determined to keep us locked up, as soon as we're set free I intend to organise day walks for us Northerners