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Original poster

Anyone changing their Christmas plans now due to Omicron?

200 replies

Twobigsapphires · 13/12/2021 17:08

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?

OP posts:
Twopenny · 15/12/2021 07:52

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

Agreed. My DP caught covid from a small gathering last week where everyone had take LFTs beforehand. Once people there alerted us to their subsequent positive test the next day, we took numerous LFTs while waiting for our PCR results to come back. The LFTs were all negative, the PCRs were not. Basically everyone that was at the gathering has had a positive PCR now and some are very ill, including my DP.

LFTs pick up some cases of covid, so they're still worth doing, but certainly not all cases and I would be very wary of relying on them before visiting vulnerable people.

Ariann · 15/12/2021 07:54

@Annotherchange

And I don’t care if Boris sanctioned a party last year. I am not going to cut my nose off to spite my face. My friends in the nhs are very worried.
Same here. Just because someone acts stupid and selfish does not give me the go-ahead to do the same. I am not a 5 year old child. NHS doctor friends very worried here too. (NE England). I'm just spending time with family who actually live with me for Christmas. No guests.
SirChenjins · 15/12/2021 07:56

And I don’t care if Boris sanctioned a party last year. I am not going to cut my nose off to spite my face. My friends in the nhs are very worried

Same here. NHS too, and it's v v worrying.

ShoppingBasket · 15/12/2021 08:57

Yes - cancelled meal out with all family and I'm not going to anyone for Christmas Dinner as my sister has my Dad. Will visit him when it is quieter as can socially distance and make him feel safe as I know he is worried. We won't be travelling to in laws abroad either.
We are in Ireland though so restrictions have been around a little longer and we were never really free from restrictions.
I was starting to get a bit free myself, went for lunch with friends at their house, one of them ended up having Covid a couple of days later. Frightened me as I work with vulnerable people and also visit my elderly Dad and Aunt. Just don't want to take the chance and give it someone vulnerable.
Saying that I wouldn't be leaving anyone on their own especially elderly parents.

Malibuismysecrethome · 15/12/2021 09:11

I think we all have to be more cautious. I’m not cancelling as I don’t have a full social diary but I have found events and gatherings I was due to attend have been cancelled anyway.

Bluesheep8 · 15/12/2021 09:36

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

Wow.

Bluesheep8 · 15/12/2021 09:37

Bold quote fail! Confused

NoNotMeNoSiree · 15/12/2021 09:39

No, we're all vaccinated, I'll be carrying on as usual.

CamQ · 15/12/2021 09:56

Our cut-off for pre-Christmas socialising was last Sunday. Will start again on 23rd to minimise chance will be I’ll or self-isolating on 24/25/26th December when have extended family plans.

Has meant cancelling a couple of things on 13-22 December.

AuntieStella · 15/12/2021 10:12

I think we're about to Sad

My DMum is a nonagenarian, and would love to see us. But with DC at school and different universities (so quite a mix of potential exposures) I think the stress might be to much.

And I feel like shit about it

CamQ · 15/12/2021 11:07

@AuntieStella why don’t you try your best to mitigate the risks but ultimately let her make the decision about what she wants to do?
Even at ninety plus the risks are nowhere near as high as you probably think, but to be brutal, there is an age-related risk of her dying from other causes before next Christmas, excluding COVID, is and she may well value her time with the family far higher than seeking to eliminate risk from COVID by spending Christmas alone.

This tool developed by Oxford uni computes risk- the paragraph in bold means anyone can use it, and may give some balance to the numbers bandied about. You can input your mum’s age, medical conditions etc and it will give a reasonable indication.

qcovid.org/

And the ONS has a general life expectancy calculator.

Plumjamorcrumblyham · 15/12/2021 11:10

We are asking the two other households to do LFT’s Xmas morning. Boxing Day we have cancelled brother in law and partner coming and will wait and see them in the new year. Night out in big city cancelled on the 23rd and DH’s Xmas night out has been cancelled by his employer.

So we are mainly going ahead with the same plans we had as a family, but socialising with others outside has been impacted. We are in Scotland and hadn’t planned any large gatherings anyway. Keeping socialising fo a minimum now until Xmas to avoid missing out on Xmas

SclepIntoChristmas · 15/12/2021 11:18

I have just cancelled my Christmas Day guests and stay overs.

DH, me and DC have all recently had Covid and my youngest tested positive yesterday. He will be out by 25th but I am not taking any chances. I don't want anyone bringing Omicron into my house and I don't want to give what we have now (not O) to anyone else. I just don't need it on my conscience.

Also, having Covid rip through my family, and being ill, has been an eye-opener. Not many people have offered to help us out, as both DH and I lay there sick with 2 DC in the house, and I am not filling the Christmas spirit now. I'm not bothered about them coming over.

I am not sending any cards now and everyone can wait until after Christmas some time to get their presents.

Right now all I am concerned about is getting the last one in my house over Covid and keeping out Omicron, whilst making sure we are not responsible for giving it to anyone we know and having the stress of that all over again.

CamQ · 15/12/2021 11:23

@SclepIntoChristmas I hope you are all through it very soon.

I should add to my post above that the QCovid calculator is actually for academics and HCPs but there are other covid risk calculators around if you google. Just make sure it is an academic-based well-respected model.

SirChenjins · 15/12/2021 11:23

Please be aware that the QCovid tool is designed to be used by clinicians as part of a conversation with the patient (they enter the data) and can not take into account booster vaccines or new variants of coronavirus. It’s also not accurate for people over 100 or with certain conditions, so it depends how close to that age she is.

Enzbear · 15/12/2021 11:24

No we're going to loads of parties and nights out. We're having a party which a doctor and two nurses are still coming to.
How people can still be quaking with fear is puzzling.

SirChenjins · 15/12/2021 11:25

X posts.

You would need to check that any predictor tool you’re using reflects the new variants - I’d be surprised if you find one that does, it’s too early for that level of data capture or modelling.

RowanAlong · 15/12/2021 11:35

Carrying on as normal, testing before meeting up, until we hear otherwise (though increasingly I feel like events might overtake us anyway in the next week, and the government will need to do something drastic).

Malibuismysecrethome · 15/12/2021 11:39

SchlepintoChristmas sorry you and your family are having such a tough time and that no one offered help. Best Wishes! Flowers

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 15/12/2021 12:04

I won't be changing anything. I'm as fully jabbed as I can be. Got booster at the weekend.

Covid is not going anywhere. We have to live with it. Wash your hands, take care and stay at home if ill.

worriedatthemoment · 15/12/2021 12:28

Im not cancelling but find it strange that so many say we have all had boosters etc , are you aware it takes a few week for them to kick in

LittleBabyCheeses · 15/12/2021 12:28

@worriedatthemoment

Im not cancelling but find it strange that so many say we have all had boosters etc , are you aware it takes a few week for them to kick in
Many people on here had them more than a few weeks ago, I expect.
worriedatthemoment · 15/12/2021 12:29

@SirChenjins vaccinated people and those that follow the rules also get covid

bowlingalleyblues · 15/12/2021 12:36

Yes. Not going to big family gathering that mixes 12 households. Not going out with big group of mates. Kids will still do their activities as normal, and go to the end of term. Going to the theatre wearing masks. Restaurant just our household. Will still see friends and family but 2/3 households at a time.

Bluesheep8 · 15/12/2021 12:39

Many people on here had them more than a few weeks ago, I expect.

Still doesn't stop them catching and spreading it

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