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?

Why impose a lockdown after a 2-week school holiday when many people will be off anyway?
Keyworkers won't be off, but they are never off in a lockdown anyway.
Use the 2-week Christmas holidays as a mini low-level circuit-breaker.
The total opposite of a 5-day virus-spreading free-for-all. Then we might not need 3 months 25 days to 'pay' for the mass transmission.
Just an idea (not to include those in support bubbles or with terminal illness etc).

@PostsAndRuns I actually agree with this. A 2 week circuit breaker over the Christmas holidays. A lot of workplaces close down over Christmas anyway - I work in manufacturing and we close over Christmas, as does most of the industry and similar ones like construction. That's a lot of people who can't normally work from home able to spend 2 weeks at home. Kids are off school. Keep pubs closed as otherwise they will be carnage over Christmas.

Obviously it will mean no mixing over Christmas but surely that's better than weeks of lockdown into the new year. A lot of people don't do much in January anyway as we're all skint so infection rates may decrease then anyway.

The other issue is that lifting the restrictions temporarily won’t make it safer. A lot of people haven’t been seeing elderly and vulnerable relatives because as well as not being allowed it’s not safe. My Mum has complained a bit but as I can point to the restrictions I’m not too much of a baddy but if I AM allowed to go I know that both she and the MIL will turn up the pressure and we will have to either upset them by saying no or risk their health.

Just no. Schools wont survive the fallout.

@Waxonwaxoff0 Do you really believe that if people sacrifice their Christmases despite many posting on this very board early this year that they simply had to go on their ski trips or lose the deposit that there wont be a lockdown in January.

Why are the sacrifices always expected to be made by those lower down the economic scale.

@MercyBooth no, but it might at least mean less disruption to schools and businesses and lower infection rates.

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@PostsAndRuns I actually agree with this. A 2 week circuit breaker over the Christmas holidays. A lot of workplaces close down over Christmas anyway - I work in manufacturing and we close over Christmas, as does most of the industry and similar ones like construction. That's a lot of people who can't normally work from home able to spend 2 weeks at home. Kids are off school. Keep pubs closed as otherwise they will be carnage over Christmas.[/quote]
Thank you. I suddenly realised that no-one had even mentioned this as an option, but it seems obvious now.
Not everyone is going to agree, but from this thread we can see that the majority of people don't want a 5-day virus free-for-all transmission celebration followed by more restrictions as they are planning a low-key quiet Christmas anyway. Why doesn't the government make the most of that? (and as always, provide exemptions for those living alone and those with terminal illness before I get sworn at by random strangers on the internet).

I think they would lockdown regardless tbh.

I cannot see this one being lifted on 2nd either.

@flumposie Schools are the issue, its spreading though the kids and then back out into the community but we're all in total denial about it!

I don't have my own kids but am happy for my taxes to go towards paying for schools and have been happy to to priorities the the opening of schools and the needs of children and young people up until now but I would like to see my family on Christmas day and if that means that schools close for a few weeks longer in January then so be it, its a fair trade.

Absolutely not worth it

load of crap so they can blame us again. and from what I've seen there's not much of a lockdown going on

I think this is just an attempt to 'sell' a longer lockdown. They are telling us we can get a couple of days freedom over Xmas which as far as I can see no one has particularly asked for and then 'pay' for it with longer lockdown. The reality is that they want to keep us locked down anyway but think people will stop complying so they try and give us an incentive. I'd rather outdoor sports could resume for the children than have Xmas dinner but I don't think that's one of the options we'll be offered....

I am somewhat offended that the government think we are all going on a five day bender at christmas when past experience has shown this does not happen. The students will be under watchful eye of home, kids under their parents eye.

You will always get the knuckle draggers boozing in a pub mates house. It did not change during lockdown.

I'd happily sacrifice Christmas for the gyms to open again!
Just not worth it in my opinion - plus what do all those do who have to work Christmas and delay their celebrations

"I'd rather outdoor sports could resume for the children than have Xmas dinner"

Its alway about what suits the children and sod what might be important to anyone else.

the worrying thing is that there are people who are adamant they want a normal Christmas (re: familiy get togethers) regardless of the consequences and even more who really want to have their fill of parties and going out. I would rather hunker down with a smaller number and keep safe.

Yes it’s worth it. Take away Christmas and you’ll take away the Christmas economy with it. Also people will do it anyway. I’ve seen my parents once this year. I’m seeing them at Christmas regardless of what anyone says. Clearly the people who don’t want to see family at Christmas don’t attach much importance to Christmas. On this one I don’t think Mumsnet is in line with the majority. 46% of people in surveys have said they will have a family Christmas regardless of rules. I’m one of them.

@sabbii, thats fine if that suits you, what are your personal circumstances? Its just me and DH at home and my elderly parents will be lonely and isolated if they don't see us. We will self isolate in the run up to christmas, get tested privately and see them. Not everyone is on about parties and the pub!

This is what I will do and if that means we have to lockdown in Jan then so be it.

@blueytacky

"I'd rather outdoor sports could resume for the children than have Xmas dinner"

Its alway about what suits the children and sod what might be important to anyone else.

Shock! Horror! This is mumsnet and people on here are concerned for the physical and mental health of their children. What a bunch of selfish b

No, I don’t want another lockdown

@redtinheart I completely understand what you are saying about schools. I teach 6 classes at secondary and today a 4th class out of those 6 was sent home due to a positive case. Only my 2 sixth form classes have not had a case yet ( although pupils are missing through isolating). We are up to between 25 and 30 cases in total now. SLT have stopped updating us with actual numbers. It's a mess.

No, definitely not worth it. What is the point locking ourselves up all this time for it to be undone because of 5 days that not everyone will celebrate. I feel for those who have missed other religions times due to lock down, but hey, it’s Christmas so it doesn’t apply. This government needs to get a grip it’s a stupid suggestion.

@whittingtonmum the thing is we have been prioritising kids for months now and I've been fine with that and not complained even though schools are clearly an issue for transmission. Now its time for other groups of people to get priority, its only a couple of days people are asking for.