Month long lockdown to 'pay' for 5 days over Christmas

[NotAKaren]

PHE have confirmed Sage advice that for every one day of relaxation over Christmas would require 5 days of restrictions afterwards. So for 5 days relaxation, which is rumoured to be what the government have in mind, would mean 25 days of restrictions. Is it really worth it?

No. Why do they think the virus is going to take a holiday? For so many people it is a high price to pay when they won’t see any benefit.

Sorry I wasn't aiming my post at you @MercyBooth

The blame for this mess lies with the government.

But it won't be the government that suffers the consequences. MPs, especially senior ones, are guaranteed hospital beds and early treatment (including expensive drugs not necessarily available for the rest of the population).

Doctors and nurses and other healthcare staff will bear the brunt of Christmas mass gatherings. As will bereaved relatives.

I can understand doing what you plan to do. I should imagine it's lowish risk, especially compared to long-distance travel - which is what often happens at Christmas. Lots and lots of people travelling across the country. Professor Devi Sridhar (one of the advisors to the Scottish government) explains it: Viruses move when people move.

It's a difficult balance. A small family get-together in the same town is obviously much lower risk than long-distance travelling across the country. It's still a risk but I can see why you're doing it. The problem is it takes just one asymptomatic case...

At the very least I think we might need to restrict cross country travel.

With the vaccines coming over the next few months we have an end in sight. It won't happen overnight, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. It would be awful to see many thousands of avoidable deaths when we're so close to the finish line.

Definitely not worth it to the vast majority. Suspending reality for a 5 day 'festive period' is bloody madness. Who in charge is it that thinks the nation is hellbent on having big Christmas gatherings anyway?

[quote wanderings]@eastegg I dare say I am all over the place, it's a symptom of long lockdown. It fucks with your head, and Saint Boris knows it, which is why he's doing it, because it suits him to keep the public despairing, frightened and confused. I'm much more frightened of the government than I am of the virus. Even though Saint Boris keeps playing the card of "I don't want a lockdown", he clearly does, it's a double bluff.

Why would Boris pretend there's a vaccine? To make people hopeful and more eager to accept his prolonged lockdown, and also to make people accept the idea of totally eradicating the virus, rather than learning to live alongside it. Mark my words, "eradicate the virus" is on my bingo card, just waiting to be ticked.[/quote]
So are all the world governments, scientists, and medical experts in on this 'hoax' too?

Fair dos @SheepandCow I wont be travelling. I will be walking round there on my own. (ive deliberately chosen light presents that arent heavy to carry) its a 20 min walk. I dont do parties or drinking. Im used to being careful. I have a DH with COPD. Ive not attended a big Christmas party since 2008 Previous time was 2001. Dont do NYE at all. Ive never been drunk. It just doesnt appeal to me. Havent been at any mass gatherings for years. IMO NYE is the bigger worry.

@Pinkyxx

Viruses don't care it's Christmas... how about some altruism? That is what Christmas is actually about. I despair at the selfishness.

People need to stop mixing to keep the spread as low as possible until enough people have received an effective vaccine to stop this virus reaching epidemic levels. I just don't understand how people don't get the longer you fight this, the longer we all have to live under constraints and pay the consequences over and over.

This

"People need to stop mixing to keep the spread as low as possible until enough people have received an effective vaccine to stop this virus reaching epidemic levels. I just don't understand how people don't get the longer you fight this, the longer we all have to live under constraints and pay the consequences over and over."

You say that but when you work in an environment where mixing and catching covid is inevitable and unavoidable, it does start to pointless to stay locked in your house on you own to stop the disease spreading in a society that apparently don't give a fuck if you catch it. I got infected at work and in about 4 to 5 months will find out if you can catch it again. Why shouldn't I live a little in the meantime?

@SakiSiam
Bereavement is another big trigger for mental health struggles and calls to the Samaritans.

Also, extreme stress and trauma. Quite a few ICU nurses were sectioned after the first Covid wave.

@Hoppinggreen

No, we don’t spend much time with family at xmas and arent too bothered. I would rather be able to see my friends and let the dc see theirs ASAP. Plus both dc have birthdays in December so it would be nice if they could do do something for them

Fine for you. My parents are getting on a bit (I'm 51!) and I've been able to see them once since new year. Between January and July, my dad seemed to have aged about 5 years :( I'm in an area that's getting the rapid tests so I hope that we do get a relaxation and can spend some time with them.

RTFT will annoy me too much, but YANBU, OP.

We are being well and truly brainwashed into accepting whatever shit the government throws at us, supposedly in the name of health. They'll either massage the numbers to keep them artificially high for ever (as they have done already), or when Covid is "done", they'll find some other reason to lock us down

Why? For what purpose do you think they want to lock us down?

No. It's ridiculous. I am fed up with this obsession with Christmas needing to be as 'near to normal' and this presumption that 'we all want x x x' at Christmas, well not everyone thinks the same way.

I agree with you @SheepandCow that It's also the height of selfishness and the opposite of the Christmas spirit. Why should lots of people never ever see their families again, because some people refused to think of others, and mass gathered whilst we have high rates of a deadly virus? Goodwill to all men??

Lots of people have elderly or unwell relatives who may not have many years left. Which is exactly why failure to contain is so wrong. Many people can't safely visit vulnerable family until containment - and with vaccines around the corner, it would be especially sad to give up on containment efforts, so close to the safe way out.

This is what some people can’t see. I’m happy for people to meet 2 households maybe. But 4? Do we really need 10 people around the table ? And it’s not because people are going to break the rule let’s make it allowed.

Some people can’t realise how tough January will be and those companies that we’re gonna save in December are going to have a difficult January. And same for mental health.

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread (need to try to sleep. Up at 5).

You can't UNDEAD people. You cannot 'pay it back (or forward). You cannot info the harm to families.

@DitherFlicker

No not worth it. Really fed up on behalf of children and young people that sport and other out of school activities are banned. Well managed and risk assessed sports and activities cannot be allowed to go ahead, but the government will probably authorise widespread shopping and hospitality in Dec...followed by five days of mixing, socialising and drinking over Christmas. For which we will pay with yet another month ban on grassroots sport and children's activities. Surely we can just celebrate in our own households, with extra bubbling allowed for grandparents or friends/relatives who would otherwise be alone?

Absolutely agree. I don't have any family who would be by themselves at Christmas so eye all happy enough to stay in our different parts of the country and have our own lie key Christmas at hone. Spring is then not too many months away and we will look forward to meeting up in better days, if cases decline.

In January, exam year children need to be in school and we need to get outdoor sports and activities back. None essential shops open.

I understand people want to see their families if they've not seen them all year but can't they wait another month or two and meet up when the risks are lower?

@MercyBooth simple, there was none. The example you’ve are mixing and among the many reasons why cases are as high as they are again. With this behaviour it was predictable.

I don’t quite follow your 2nd sentence. The basic rules of limiting transmission needed to be applied by everyone, and followed from the outset. Viruses don’t discriminate.

I’d rather see family at Christmas and lockdown after Christmas for a month.

NO NO NO NO NO NO

@BlueBlueElectric

I’d rather see family at Christmas and lockdown after Christmas for a month.

Why should other people's family die, frontline workers suffer, and more people lose their jobs, because of your preference?

My feeling is that it’s either safe or it isn’t. Locking down after lifting the restrictions will only reduce deaths but there will still be hundreds of unnecessary deaths if mixing is allowed not to mention the harm to businesses. We can all make do without a normal Christmas if it prevents families from loosing loved ones before their time and more families loosing businesses and homes.

Why should other people's family die, frontline workers suffer, and more people lose their jobs, because of your preference?

Standard answer is "mental health".
Albeit your post is rather inflammatory.

@Dottyandbet Bet your post doesnt include retail workers. Who will lose jobs if they lose the Christmas trade on top of what they have already lost this year.

@walksen

I stood at the side of my grandmother’s grave at her funeral last week. I hadn’t seen her all year.

You must do what you feel is right but forgive me but I won’t act in a way which might lead to anyone having to experience what I am my family did last week, for the 2nd time this year. I will not risk the lives of anyone’s grandparents, parents, siblings etc.. to indulge my own needs.

No, not worth it if it means someone, somewhere will die as a result. Which it surely will.
We are so close to the end of this and we need to put up and shut up until we have vaccinated the vunerable. It is just one Christmas - party in August if you have to. Please don't help his terrible virus contaminate and kill.