Do you think lockdown will be lifted for Christmas?

[BlusteryShowers]

I can't help but feel quietly confident that there will be an announcement some time in December allowing an easing of lockdown measures for a short period over Christmas.

I propose that the govt suspect many would flout rules any way, so they may as well make it Part Of The Plan and take credit for their benevolence.

The timing of the announcement would be interesting. The spending that goes into Christmas is huge and lots of businesses rely on it. Can we even afford a very very low key Christmas?

Does anyone else think this?

[herecomesthsun]

Are you talking Xmas hols or Xmas day?

It depends what the students do between the end of term (around 1st week December) and Xmas Day.

If they were willing to lay low for 10 -14 days they could visit even quite vulnerable parents at Xmas, and over the following few days.

It might be sensible to save the wild parties (if there have to be wild parties) for New Year in that scenario.

Or is that too sensible?

[EmilyDickinson]

Generally students come home for holidays if they are in Hall or University accommodation. I’m not sure that many come home just for Christmas Day in normal circumstances.

[EmilyDickinson]

I can see that on an individual level students (and parents to be fair) could quarantine for 14 days before forming a new bubble but while students that have a clinically vulnerable parent might do so I don’t think on a national level this is workable.

[EmilyDickinson]

And you don’t need “wild parties” to catch Covid, otherwise we wouldn’t have had such a high level of infection in care homes.

[OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer]

@EmilyDickinson

But it isn’t so much about the individual risk to parents in their 50s catching Covid from student offspring but the increased risk to everyone of a large number of (probably asymptomatic) people moving from places where infections may well be high to places where it is low. Also, students don’t just come home and have Christmas dinner with their parents, they also socialise with friends from home while they are back

On a societal level, yes it's about the increased risk to everyone. My point is, on a micro level, I don't think it's at all realistic to expect the whole cohort of families to make their decisions on that basis.

[EmilyDickinson]

I think with Covid we have to think collectively, not individually for the sake of all those who are vulnerable

[EmilyDickinson]

And in fact any of us could be vulnerable. If the NHS is overwhelmed with Covid cases then medical care for other things becomes more difficult and we don’t know whether we might need that care

[OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer]

We seem to be at cross purposes here. You're talking about what you think should happen, I'm talking about what I think will happen. They're not the same thing, and the one doesn't refute the other.

[RedToothBrush]

More on the students coming home for christmas story:

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/christmas-students-ban-lockdown-holidays-18992240
Students could be told to stay at university accommodation over Christmas

Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out banning students from returning home for the festive period

[daisyrosie]

It would be nice to think we could see our family and friends as usual this Christmas, but I'm not sure if that is realistic with cases rising.
A lot of people will be having a low key Christmas this year with job losses and possible longer term financial insecurity. It will be bad news for retailers but when people are worried about keeping a roof over their heads they can't justify spending loads on Christmas presents and expensive meals, and the government are even more out of touch with reality than I thought if they are expecting everyone to carry on spending as usual.

[sally067]

They'd be mad to make any sort of allowances. Wasn't it Chinese New Year that allowed the virus to spread around the world in the first place when millions of people left Wuhan all at the same time.

Christmas is ours and the Wests Chinese New Year and it would just exacerbate the situation for the rest of winter.

[smilingontheinside]

I've always spent Christmas with my husband and children and parents when they were alive. This year I will be living on my own as will the stbxh. If I can see my children then great if not then I wi be able to spend the day eating chocolate and watching crappy Christmas TV. It will make a change from cooking for everyone for the last 40+ years. I've missed a big trip this year which had been organised and saved for for a long time but I can always book another and can buy my family friends gifts any time. Those willing to flount the rules just to have what you always have are what is wrong with the world 🙄

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

It’s not that much of an issue, single adults can bubble so they don't have to spend Christmas alone

I am in a bubble with my elderly Mum. Which means I can only see my son outside in a public place (restricted area). This is ok for the most part. But it means if no relaxing of restrictions he will have to spend Christmas on his own. He shares a house with one other person, who will be away over Christmas, which means he can't be in a bubble with anyone. That is a huge issue for me.

[Torvean32]

@BlusteryShowers

I can't help but feel quietly confident that there will be an announcement some time in December allowing an easing of lockdown measures for a short period over Christmas.

I propose that the govt suspect many would flout rules any way, so they may as well make it Part Of The Plan and take credit for their benevolence.

The timing of the announcement would be interesting. The spending that goes into Christmas is huge and lots of businesses rely on it. Can we even afford a very very low key Christmas?

Does anyone else think this?

No. Not until the vaccination programme is close to completion. Its hopefully starting in Dec for the elderly and most vulnerable, then front line workers will be vaccinated followed by general public.

Before anyone moans that front line workers get first it means that areas if the nhs will open. Ppl will get to see Gps, Surgeries will go ahead, cancer treatments, mental health treatment etc.

[Chaotic45]

@Canyanot that is one of the most sad posts I have ever read on mumsnet. I'm not going to kick back, that would be pointless.

[Canyanot]

@Chaotic45 why would pity the dead when we're up shit creek without a paddle. Lockdown has stuffed many more lives than killed and quite honestly I'm sick of it, I care about me and my own, as well the survivors who are left (vast majority) to pick up the pieces, my daughter's future is far more important to me than 93 year old Doris in the local care home.

[gamerchick]

@Canyanot

My usual Christmas is 6, 7 now with a small child so we will probably still do that.

However, Christmas is going to be rough for economy. Many businesses will be reliant on the spending boost Christmas usually brings and a lot of those businesses won't survive.

If I'm honest (I despise most of the elderly anyway) I don't think a full lockdown was ever the right decision, I'd have been alright with them just letting everyone catch it and allowing the elderly to die off, not exactly got long left to live anyway. The young vulnerable should be shielded, along with their households. World could do with a good cull, its overpopulated anyway. There has got to be some sort of life for the rest of us, bollocks to picking up the pieces years later for the sake of a small percentage of the population. That said, I think its been blown out of proportion and people have been made to live in fear.

Man, you're going to have a proper love hate relationship with a mirror when you hit the golden age aren't you?

[lunalulu]

If I'm honest (I despise most of the elderly anyway) I don't think a full lockdown was ever the right decision, I'd have been alright with them just letting everyone catch it and allowing the elderly to die off, not exactly got long left to live anyway

Thankfully it wasn't up to you 😂

I'm interested as why people should be despised and killed off because they've survived a long time?

[Canyanot]

@lunalulu I never said I wanted them to die. I don't wish people to die, just don't feel the need to stop the world, people die everyday that's life and quite frankly, although I don't wish death on people, it won't affect me that much, when it's strangers anyway. Life is too short.

Hope everyone breaks the rules for Christmas xxxxxxxxx

[LastTrainEast]

Canyanot I expect this will go over your head, but it's worth a try.

Imagine a funeral with just a couple of people there and your name on the stone and someone saying "well at least it wasn't someone who mattered"

Do you see what's wrong with that?

[ravensoaponarope]

I live in Wales and usually spend Christmas with my mum and friend. I hope this will be allowed. I generally become suicidal between Christmas and New Year, I don't think I could cope if i had to spend Christmas alone. I hope they make exceptions for mental health.

[Canyanot]

@ravensoaponarope they won't because Covid is the only thing that exists at moment 🥴🙄

[Canyanot]

@LastTrainEast it's sad yes, but not sad enough to warrant this shit show.