Does anyone think we will get a break for Christmas?

[november90]

It's been hinted that restrictions may ease for the holidays but does anyone actually believe it or do you think it's just a way to try and get people to stick down to the rules?

I live in Lancashire, in tier 3 and it seems absolutely nobody is paying attention to the rules! (Like to point out that me and my family are 🙈).

I’m a bit confused by this, @HelenaDove I had started my Christmas shopping but ive only bought 3 things and some wrapping paper. Ive now stopped
I get that Covid will affect Christmas Day meet ups, but will it really affect who you get presents for? Aren’t you don’t anything at all if you can’t have your normal lunch?

I’m in Lancashire too 👋 promise I’m keeping to the rules and my close family are too! But agree sometimes it feels like you are the only ones still doing so 😢 I’m also pregnant so have been quite strict even when we had a short time of being allowed to mix etc. Not mixed inside with friends since March and only been out for two meals out with my fiancé. Starting to plan and assume two it will just be us two for Christmas this year so I don’t get my hopes up of rules being lifted - but still sad at not seeing close family to celebrate. We might end up booking a remote air bnb for a bit of a baby moon if we still aren’t allowed to mix with others 🤔

@gingerwhingerwife

I very much doubt there will be restrictions lifted for Christmas especially as there were restrictions for Eid.

This is what I think. It would be hard to justify.

For my part I will not see my family at Christmas this year if it’s against the rules but I think setting realistic restrictions which allow some minimal mixing would be better or i suspect people will just say fuck it and do what they like. But I don’t know how you justify it when the locked down Eid.

I wont be able to see them. The plain fact is i cant afford to waste money on something that might not happen. So no gift sets in boxes with Christmas trees robins on them etc,, Ppl will get something in a card to spend in the new year.

@cantkeepawayforever

This idea that most vulnerable people are NHS nurses and teachers is just nonsense. 72% of shielders do not work at all and many of those who do work will be able to do so from home.

Shielding should be restarted on a funded and voluntary basis.

They locked down Eid in a despicable way. Some ignored it and carried on.

If they lock down Christmas the result will be the same.

e, g. i cant save a gift set that says Mistletoe Ready on it for a birthday next year. Thems the breaks!

For all you mentioning Eid, what about Easter? Easter was cancelled!!!!

There was a scientist on Channel 4 news earlier talking about how blaming the public is very counter productive.

Ecosse,

I have never said that 'most' vulnerable people are NHS nurses or teachers.

I am just protesting against those who think that the 'vulnerable' can be removed from society without any impact on 'the rest'.

Every example I have given is one from my personal acquaintance - either from the 28% who work outside the home, or from the very many who may not themselves work outside the home but are part of the household of someone who does and therefore are exposed to the risks that the rest of their household must encounter. For example, extremely medically vulnerable parents and grandparents who live with schoolchildren are necessarily exposed to the risks that those schools children run, and cannot be effectively 'removed from society' without negatively impacting the schoolchildren.

[quote Ecosse]@cantkeepawayforever

This idea that most vulnerable people are NHS nurses and teachers is just nonsense. 72% of shielders do not work at all and many of those who do work will be able to do so from home.

Shielding should be restarted on a funded and voluntary basis.[/quote]
Even if it is right that 72% of shielders don’t work, lots of them will live with or be cared for by people who do surely?

@cantkeepawayforever

I would be more than happy for the government to fund the wages of all household members of shielders to enable them to stay at home.

Shielding teachers should be offered the opportunity to stay at home and teach shielded D.C.

I'm hoping the rules stay actually - I wont judge those who break them at all but on the flip side those who will adhere to them will have a positive impact on rates. I also am keen to not have a big family christmas as I have no interest in risking anyone

If its allowed we will see the grandparents as we have all agreed to self isolate for 2 weeks prior to the day to keep each other safe

[quote Ecosse]@cantkeepawayforever

I would be more than happy for the government to fund the wages of all household members of shielders to enable them to stay at home.

Shielding teachers should be offered the opportunity to stay at home and teach shielded D.C.[/quote]
And to fund the full-time education of every child who lives in a household with a shielded parent, guardian or grandparent?

And the wages of the carers of the shielded? Since obviously you wouldn't want e.g. a COVID ward nurse to then have to go round and care for a vulnerable or elderly relative, so you would need to pay their wages too?

I hate to say it but Christmas would be the perfect time for a circuit breaker lockdown as schools are off and many workplaces have an enforced closedown.

Or they might let us have one or perhaps two days so long-distance travel is discouraged.

Of course a circuit breaker would be hugely unpopular.

@cantkeepawayforever

Shielded DC should be offered the opportunity of online learning delivered by shielding teachers.

What about people who do not WANT to be locked away indoors?
Those who want to go to the gym?
Those who want to go to cultural events?
Who want to go to gardens and museums?
Who want to live a full life
despite being older or iller

as we will all die one day
better to live first

Ecosse,

That wasn't what I meant. What about healthy children who live with shielders or with grandparents or other relatives over the age of 70?

At current doubling rate we'll be well over 100,000 new cases a day by Christmas. My NHS friends say "it's starting" now, and we're well away from any hotspots.

So I think the public-spirited and patriotic amongst us will choose not to potentially make things worse for our country by mixing on Christmas Day. Whatever the government say.

No I don't think there will be any relaxing of the rules for Christmas. Things will likely be a lot worse by then so possibly the rules will be stricter.

Me and DH will be abiding by the rules as will the rest of my family. Sick of people ignoring all the rules like my bloody neighbours both sides

IronLawOfGeometricProgression

Well said you.

But I doubt many will comply just the same.

@lynsey91 your neighbours sound like ours. Next door both tested positive last weekend. They have 3 kids and we have seen them several times going out and wbout 🙄

@Zeebeezee

IronLawOfGeometricProgression

Well said you.

But I doubt many will comply just the same.

Many will not comply - and they will be highly visible.

Many, many will comply - and will be invisible so people can claim they don't exist, to justify their own choices.

@supersonicginandtonic You are being very disingenuous to use that as a comparison . Nobody on this thread has said they will go out and about after testing positive.

It is this kind of gaslighting and blaming of the public which undermines the whole message.

@rainystorm that is. Bit harsh people have had enough I stick by the rules but I see lots that don't mental health is going through the roof