Covid xmas restrictions

[Teacher12345]

With meeting more than 6 people being made a law, I wondered if people were adapting their plans?
We were meant to be meeting 5 other households (15 people) for 4 days. I cannot see the restrictions being lifted enough to allow this but I also don't think that my family will be willing to book until closer to the time. Luckily, they can cancel with a months notice without penalty.

Even when we don't do this, we usuallt have inlaws over xmas day which I think we would get away with (7 of us but only for a couple of hours) and then boxing day, we go to my parents and there are 3 households of ten in total and we have a big party. I am not sure how we will see family without that day unless my sister leaves before we arrive so my kids can legally see their granparents.

Anyone else contemplating plans?

[Itstheprinciple]

We'd generally be a maximum of 7 anyway (including my mum who is in our support bubble) and I think we'd probably carry on with that anyway of all parties were willing, otherwise it risks one person being alone (my dad - DM and Ddad are divorced but it is amicable and they often both attend family things) and I'm not sure I could do that. Having said that, ILs are at higher risk (were shielding at the start but not on the highest risk level) and have a new grandchild on the other side of the family so might not come anyway. Sometimes ILs come for brunch so that might eliminate the issue entirely!

[Hazelmazel]

We hadn't made plans yet but we always get together somewhere with the various in-laws in a group of 12 from 3 households. One of the family is extremely vulnerable and we all have stuck to all the rules so far so there's no way we would meet up. We will have just a small family Christmas at home. It'll be nice to have a bit of a change and it will make us appreciate our normal Christmas all the more next year.

[Angel2702]

There are usually15 of us for Christmas dinner. We already knew we wouldn’t be able to do that this year but thought we would be ok as we could just go to my parents and my brothers to their PIL stocking to 2 households so none of us were on our own.

We have never been on our own for Christmas so not looking forward to it. At this rate it will just be another day in lockdown but with presents.

[Pixxie7]

I think I am missing something, I get that you can’t meet in groups of more than 6 but does it have to be the same 6 people? Or can you say meet with a different 6 people each day?

[Chaotic45]

I love Christmas but really think it's pales into insignificance compared to everything going on ATM.

As the saying goes Christmas Day is 'one day' and I'm not spending the next 15 weeks of days worrying about how to manage that one day. I'll make sure that we see all of our loved ones during the run up to Christmas, or afterwards.

It makes me sad that so many people think the rules don't apply to them. The only way infection rates will reduce and life will get back to normal is if people limit social contact. The cumulative effect of their attitude is the reason infection rates are rising.

[whiskybysidedoor]

Not a huge fan of Christmas to be honest but I do feel for people who really look forward to it. The way things are going I expect the regulations may be in force then.

On the other hand if people sack the rules off for the sake of one day (as I believe these types of gatherings are the absolute worst for transmission) and we all have to suffer more lockdown rules because of it I will be raging. I need normal life more than you guys need a day of turkey and crackers!!!

[ivykaty44]

The banning 6 people or more meeting has been put in place and will last till after Xmas to stop people making plans over the festive period to have larger family gatherings

Tbh mist people turn to Xmas plans at some point during autumn- so by implementing plans now it stops these plans being made.

[byvirtue]

I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a last minute lifting of the rule of six (maybe to 12 or some other arbitrary number). If it’s last minute most people will already have made plans for a smaller family Christmas bought all the food etc and will carry on as is. Those who were going to break the rules can do so legally, the police won’t be inundated with calls about Mrs Muggins at number 34 having 8 people round. But really it will be so the tories can enjoy the “St Boris saves Christmas” headlines.

[MsSquiz]

As it stands, we would have to change our plans, as our family Christmas Day comprises of 10 adults and 4 kids 8 and under.
We could maybe split it so we have 5 adults and 1 kid (me, DH, DD, PIL, SIL1) but the rest are SIL2's family (her and BIL, 3 kids, her parents and brother) so still too many for the 6 rule... though they'd be ok if under 12s weren't included in the number.

I guess we are just hoping things will have relaxed enough for our usual Christmas Day. It's DD's 1st Christmas (well, 2nd but she was only a week old last year) and I'll be sad if she can't spend it with her cousins

[byvirtue]

Like all covid rules the majority will follow them and the minority won’t. We have 4 parents in their 70s, we’ve seen 2 of them once since February.

If they want to come for Christmas and take our household to 7 it’s entirely up to them. We live rurally the cases are low. There is absolutely no chance the police will turn up at our house on Christmas Day, insist on gaining entry so they can count how many people are in our house and then issue us with a fine. It’s ridiculous notion and won’t put me off hosting a family Christmas.

[Friendsoftheearth]

bickles I would be mindful of scamming companies offering covid tests. They may not be accurate and will put your relatives in more danger not less. Stick to the normal tests offered by the NHS if you are ill.

I am planning early, because there is so much uncertainty - christmas is the one thing we can look forward to. We have decided to shelve our christmas plans now, I can not see the infection rate going down now, that is just wishful thinking. We are not doing large gathering and will meet with one other family to make up a six and leave it at that.

They will have no way of enforcing restrictions on christmas day , there would be anarchy

It is one day, and not worth killing lots of people for. Get a grip ts

[MarmaladeTeepee]

I agree it's too early to plan, but I don't think it's too early to prepare for disappointment especially if large family gatherings are your norm. I reckon the rule of 6 may be here for the rest of the year, but I suspect the government will do another u-turn and follow the lead of Wales and Scotland and make primary school aged children exempt. At least I'm hoping that's the case!

[tsmainsqueeze]

I don't think rules will make a scrap of difference on christmas day , it's far to large to be policed , other than obvious large , loud groups of people, who will know how many people are in one house at any one time ?
Police /authority will turn a blind eye for 1 day .
They will have no way of enforcing restrictions on christmas day , there would be anarchy.

[Teacher12345]

Maybe Cherry, We are all spread out accross England so no chance of just meeting for a meal. I am the only one with kids am always the one to drop out of these things. It's very frustrating!

[Cherryrainbow]

I'm in Wales so as far as I can tell under 11s don't count ie you could have 6 adults and several children meet up.

From what I gather with discussions with my mum (as my sister lives in England in whats a potential hotspot so is unlikely to come up and see us over Xmas) we already have planned to just have a family meal the Sunday before Xmas so my parents can see the kids and xmas day ill have at home with immediate family. Boxing day is when my oh has his son and we will see his parents. So it may not change all that much for us.

I imagine people may try and get around it by booking xmas meals in restaurants/pubs if they can?

[Pansypath]

Our neighbours are a house of six single people in a shared house. So if each had one person over to their room for a chat there would be 12 of them. We are a family of five and no way will I worry about seeing my parents and being seven of us which is less risky than that.

[Bickles]

Spotted saliva tests privately online today with a 48 hour turnaround £119.
Might get those so we can have a proper, not distanced family Christmas (there’s only 6 of us anyway, and only 3 would need tests as the oldies aren’t doing anything anyway!

[Fifthtimelucky]

There are usually nine of us for Christmas (two households) and I'm hoping that if everyone keeps to the new rules for the next couple of months, the rate of new infections will start to fall and we will be able to relax the rules over Christmas, even if only temporarily.

Obviously we will have a plan B in case that doesn't happen.

[merrygoround51]

@aquamarine1

I'm honestly amazed at the amount of people thinking there's any science behind the arbitrary rule of 6 and telling the rest of us that if we hang out with a family group of 8 we're delaying 'normality'. Have you jo critical thinking abilities at all? Where else of earth has a 6 rule and what's the actual methodology behind it?

Well it’s not about applying critical thinking is it. Unless you are an epidemiologist or public health expert, your opinion is pretty much worthless.
These are the rules brought in to supposedly halt the spread of Covid and they are enforceable. That’s all that’s to it really.
You can decide to break them, however you are not doing so in an informed way

[lynsey91]

We are always 16 people from 8 households. No way can I see that being allowed this year.

From lock down I have thought Christmas will have to be different this year but I will be very sad about it. I have always spent it with my parents (I am in my 60's) and then my siblings as they came along, then their partners. Then they both had children so they came too and now they are grown up with partners of their own but still every Christmas we all get together.

Me and DH might think about breaking the rules but one of my siblings and their partner definitely would not and I don't think their children and partners would either.

I think it will be just me and DH this year.

[drspouse]

Well, for every one extra that catches it, that's however many more others catching it.
If the R number is 1.1 and you have 10 people in your house and they all catch it that's 11 more people who then become 12 people who have it etc etc. So you've spread it to 33 people.
If the R number is 0.9 and you have 6 people in your house and they all catch it that's 5 more people who catch it, they spread it to 4 people. Now you've only spread it to 15 which is plenty but still fewer.

[aquamarine1]

I'm honestly amazed at the amount of people thinking there's any science behind the arbitrary rule of 6 and telling the rest of us that if we hang out with a family group of 8 we're delaying 'normality'. Have you jo critical thinking abilities at all? Where else of earth has a 6 rule and what's the actual methodology behind it?

[drspouse]

We have booked a cottage near my mum's (she usually hosts my DB plus family who is Favourite Child) so we'd have dinner in the cottage but mum could come and watch the DCs open presents etc and we can go for walks, mum and I can take the DCs to the cinema etc.
If DB doesn't go (she's panicking because he hasn't confirmed, it's September mum, chill out!)
She says we can eat in two rooms, we'll get our own turkey crown because NO).

[kittensarecute]

I'll be very surprised if it's lifted by Christmas. If anything I think restrictions will have to be made tougher by then. But I hope I'm wrong.

[blue25]

Looking forward to a quiet Christmas this year, with just us at home. Also means we won’t be disappointed by change in plans.

Surely people aren’t surprised by the restrictions, I don’t understand why anyone would be planning a big family Christmas this year TBH.