Anyone changing their Christmas plans now due to Omicron?

[Twobigsapphires]

Starting to panic now. Got friends and their DC coming over to stay 20-21 Dec, another friend coming on the 22nd and hosting family 24-25 Dec.
Is it fair to cancel? Irresponsible to continue with plans?

It's the isolation period that's the disaster, not necessarily catching Covid. Surely the 10 day period could be reviewed now we're double, some triple, vaccinated?

@XiCi

I can maybe understand cancelling things very close to Xmas day so the day isnt ruined and all family can be together but why on earth would you cancel Xmas day itself or even more puzzling New Years Eve? Omicron is said to be very mild symptoms even in the unvaccinated so don't understand the panic

It's not about getting it, it's about having to isolate for 10 days and / or passing it to others who may be vulnerable.

There also no evidence it's milder / results in fewer hospitalisations.

There IS evidence it's much more transmissible, AND that vaccines are less effective against it, so it will probably mean more admissions, and potentially overwhelm the NHS. I can see why some people are choosing to opt out.

@99victoria

We went to the theatre last night. We're going again on Thursday. Saturday I'm hosting a brunch with some friends and Sunday night I'm going to a Christmas dinner at a friend's house (10 of us). Next week we're taking the grandchildren to the theatre one afternoon then we're going up to London on Thursday and going to a Carol Concert at the RAH. Christmas day we're having the family over - 10 of us. Hopefully we'll all stay covid free until then but if we don't we'll deal with it. Happy to carry on as normal for now

@99victoria

That's a lot of socialising. TBH, I find it hard to understand how people can think that's ok, in this health climate

I find it hard to understand how people can think that's ok

Why are you trying to make people feel guilty? Nothing wrong about it at all.

@XiCi

I can maybe understand cancelling things very close to Xmas day so the day isnt ruined and all family can be together but why on earth would you cancel Xmas day itself or even more puzzling New Years Eve? Omicron is said to be very mild symptoms even in the unvaccinated so don't understand the panic

My Mum is incredibly anxious, the amount of stress it would cause her is not worth it.

Between us all, we're out nearly every night from this Saturday (pubs, restaurants, parties) then have my family over for Christmas Day and a huge family party on Boxing Day. I can't wait although one night out has already been cancelled...

So no, nothing will be cancelled here unless we actually get Covid.

No, definitely not changing any plans.

@notanothertakeaway...some people don't care do they. Lot of selfish people around.

Nope, not cancelling. We’ll do lfts.

"There also no evidence it's milder / results in fewer hospitalisations."

We seem to be choosing to ignore the evidence. We've had consultants on the TV from SA and other parts of the world reporting that the effects are milder.
I've just had a conversation about this tonight. 79 year old meeting with family, many in high transmission route jobs and unvaccinated. Personal choice of the 79 year old, who isn't in good health, but we do need to recognise that health support more than likely won't be available if they are adversely affected by Covid. The whole family likes a two day minimum piss up at NY, so there won't be a lift to the hospital when the ambulance is delayed by five hours (that's no exaggeration), we've also go issues with a lack of taxis. If you can take the whole situation as it is , or just manage the ten day isolation, there isn't a problem. But not everyone can.

We've had consultants on the TV from SA

We have had one woman, who alerted the world to Omicron and has somehow now decided she is the expert on it, waffling on about how it's affecting the population of SA. A population which is very, very different to our own.

I'll be insisting my visitors wear a hazmat suit, 3 surgical masks, a welding mask and surgical gloves.
The windows will be wide open
Everyone will have been tested before arrival.
Sanitizer will be provided on entry at the front door.
Two metre rule will apply when seated around the dining table.
Plates and cutlery will be disposable (sorry greta)

I think Its going to be the best Christmas ever.
🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

@NightOwlWoes

We've had consultants on the TV from SA

We have had one woman, who alerted the world to Omicron and has somehow now decided she is the expert on it, waffling on about how it's affecting the population of SA. A population which is very, very different to our own.

Well considering only 25% of the population of SA has been vaccinated at all... I think she knows what she is talking about.

No, we're all testing first, and as long as we test negative it's fine. I'm being very careful on the run up though. I've declined an invitation to a Christmas gathering this evening for example

Well considering only 25% of the population of SA has been vaccinated at all... I think she knows what she is talking about

Relevance..?

I’m CEV. I’ve cancelled any interactions with people from today until I get a taxi to my elderly parents in 23rd. They’ve also reduced their social events in the lead-up to Christmas to just one (from six). Current plan is still to meet up from 23rd onwards with lateral flow tests beforehand.

DH has cancer (coming home from hospital today) so we are scaling back our plans slightly. Cancelled some evenings out and instead will have family over for a pre Christmas lunch this weekend. He starts chemo on 3-1 so we don’t want him getting sick and it being postponed.

Our 5 children will be all be with us but his mum will stay home as she is very vulnerable.

Determined to make it a lovely time as we don’t know what the future holds.

@notanothertakeaway we're adults who can make our own risk judgements.

If you feel vulnerable, fine don't socialise or don't go out.

I don't. I've had covid twice and both vaccinations, my chances of getting I'll enough to need hospitalisation are now very very slim.

The family we're seeing are triple jabbed so their chances of getting very sick are slim.

My kids are in school this week and there's no way I'm letting them miss a single day that they don't have too. My fear of my son regressing back to being a selective mute is far greater than my fear of covid.

As I've also said before, last Christmas was shit! I'm going to enjoy this one.

just a couple of social gatherings with people who've mostly had Covid already.

I don't understand this, people can get/spread it more than once.

Posted too soon.
Plans here are to see family Christmas Day only. 3 households, a total of 8 people.

* No not a chance. All fully vaccinated so we'll continue as planned*

^This. I’m done with all the scaremongering

Nope , but I wouldn't put all my faith in lfts either .

Nope. We are vaccinated will lateral flow but other than that I am getting on with my life. They can shut shops and restaurants but any other kind of ban from seeing friends/lockdown no way am I doing. The vaccine was billed as our way out.

I have total respect if someone does want to cancel though but I won't be be

Nope , but I wouldn't put all my faith in lfts either .

I think you're right not to. I know at least 3 people, my sister and 2 colleagues who had negative lft tests and still felt unwell and did positive PCR tests.

No