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?

@Friendsoftheearth

Everyone is following the rules here. No one is planning big christmases or seeing the elderly in their families unless they are alone.

No one is expecting a normal bloody christmas. The idea is faintly ridiculous. We can't all pretend that there isn't a virus that can kill circulating and it will just make an exception because 'it is christmas'.

If they don't get a grip on the narrative pretty bloody quickly we are going to see tens of thousands of people die, and that will be the legacy of the christmas spirit of 2020.

Same here re following the rules.

And entirely agree with the rest (again ;)

Absolutely what a legacy. Idiots if they do this. Beyond idiocy actually, I don’t have the words. So annoyed.

I am not a massive gov basher as you know marsha I tend to be one of the ones that chime in with the 'gov are just doing their best'.

I will NEVER ever forgive this government if they go along with a week long christmas, knowing the scientists are saying there are grave risks attached to this plan, and it kills thousands of people that could have otherwise been saved with a vaccine in a matter of weeks.

Christmas is just one day, why can't we simply say for one day only you can see your family (2/3 households max) and that it is it.

If they reopen the pubs on christmas week it is going to be an absolute free for all, celebrating like never before. No one is going to give a toss about socially distanced tables, nor stop kissing and hugging because it is christmas after all. What do they think will happen if you keep people locked up right to the last minute, and then throw open the tinsel covered doors????

Me too Friends I have broadly agreed with the strategy so far. This is making me feel helpless and annoyed. I will not forgive it either. It had better just be speculation.

What this will do to health system, the staff that have to work there, the schools, the businesses that can’t open due to extended lockdown and the lost livelihoods. That’s before you get to a rising death rate. Fark! Annoyed.

I agree Friends, I feel like they are giving in to the demands of people who are largely ignorant/stupid and selfish and who in the end will often suffer for it anyway. So many innocent people who have fought hard to protect themselves and others and to keep schooling/businesses/NHS going will suffer, including those in desperate need of non Covid NHS treatment. You are right, it will be unforgivable. I know there will be a lack of compliance whatever they do, but they can take steps to limit that instead of having a relative free for all.

I think right now Boris and others might think the people pleasing thing to do is to give in to the pressure but long term I think many people would reward them for holding their nerve.

Surely it depends what they mean by relaxing restrictions. Most responses here seem to be expecting no restrictions ie a free for all, but surely that is unlikely. There will be a max number of people or households. And I think we will get the 25 day minimum lockdown in Jan or Feb regardless of whether we relax restrictions over Christmas or not. The vaccine plans say all adults should be vaccinated by April, surely it will be rolling lockdowns till then at least since SAGE believe nothing else works.

I think many people would reward them for holding their nerve

Well going by this statement maybe more people should drive to Barnard Castle with the virus or not social distance or wear masks in a big meeting like Boris + co have just done so they have to self isolate. If this kind of thing gets a reward ive obviously been doing lockdown all wrong.

If there's going to be another lockdown in January, I can already wave good bye to finding potential new job after my contract ends on Dec 31st. What an utter shit. Time to say hello to universal credit I guess.

Its a stupid idea, either its safe to mix households indoors or its not? For months and months we've been told to stay apart from each other and now all of a sudden its fine to mix for 5 days! What the hell!
Actions like this just feed the covid deniers claims that the virus isnt serious and its all about control of people.

If its ok to mix for 5 days over Christmas its ok to mix at any other time of the year too. I've kept away from my family and friends but things like this make me think its all been a waste of time and I've been lied too

Ifriends of the earth 'If they reopen the pubs on christmas week it is going to be an absolute free for all, celebrating like never before. No one is going to give a toss about socially distanced tables, nor stop kissing and hugging because it is christmas after all.'

Believe me, as someone who was used to being in a pub on a Saturday and Sunday, I will not be celebrating (haven't since my mum was diagnosed and put in a home with Alzheimers [2015], now dead). And there's no way I'll be kissing or hugging anyone. Can't think of anything worse than being intimate with people I don't know.

To assume that everybody will be so excited about Christmas is ignoring so many other things that govern people's lives.

Ridiculous. The Pandemic is now reaching the 2nd peak, no more lockdowns are required. The current one isn't achieving anything.

Lockdown just seems to concentrate people into a smaller space anyway, town was heaving today with everyone going to artisan bakeries etc.

@MercyBooth

I think many people would reward them for holding their nerve

Well going by this statement maybe more people should drive to Barnard Castle with the virus or not social distance or wear masks in a big meeting like Boris + co have just done so they have to self isolate. If this kind of thing gets a reward ive obviously been doing lockdown all wrong.

I'm really sorry Mercy, but I don't understand...could you explain?

Breaking news on Sky & BBC now that it looks like they're going to open up from 22nd - 28th December but we're going to have tighter tiers before then. God knows what's going to happen in January.

It seems the 'COVID Winter Plan' will be announced on Monday and you'll find out what tier you're in on Thursday.

I don't think I'm particularly happy about it, I expect we'll be back in a tighter T3 so not able to see anybody or do very much fur even longer, all for the privilege of seeing MIL at Christmas. 😒

It's ridiculous. Especially as for many people they still won't be able to see their relatives due to wanting to protect them.

i dont understand how you can have christmas off, like a holiday, the virus does not recognise christmas so its not logical to come out of lockdown for five days, my husband and I will be staying at home. , not seeing any of our family, very depressing I know but just wouldnt feel right if we mingled with others at this time, never thought i would say this but i actually feel sorry for the government, i would not like their jobs at all, they are damned if they dont and damned if they do, dont forget this has never happened before so i think we are all, including the governmemt.as we go along

Well the grave diggers will be busy come the new year.

The government isn't satisfied with 70,000 deaths?

With the vaccines so close it's criminal to allow tens of thousands of avoidable deaths.

I hope the bereaved families take legal action.

all for the privilege of seeing MIL at Christmas

THERE it is!

Well, we will know on Monday, looking forward to lots of frothing on here😂😂😂

I always read on here about 'having Xmas off' but until 3weeks ago we had been seeing both sets of parents for months regularly. They have stayed at our house, we share a caravan so I suppose effectively share the same bed.

My parents have socialised and had friends to stay, they have been to some of the new socially distanced theatre events and my children have socialised with friends going shopping at the weekend etc.

We are in what was a tier one area. Fewer than 75 cases per 100,000.

Actually this Christmas relaxation removes our freedoms rather than gives us any. We were in a much better place in October.

Absolute utter madness to even consider it. If they do it, then followed by a lockdown to break the cycle, then I hope it’s a full bloody lockdown with all schools closed again. I’m a teacher, why should I risk my health to go back to an environment of no social distancing and not being able to wear a mask after the children I teach have mixed with all and sundry over Christmas.

Wonder if all those if you saying how great it will be would say the same if you thoughts schools would have to close again if you’re allowed Christmas/

nd I think we will get the 25 day minimum lockdown in Jan or Feb regardless of whether we relax restrictions over Christmas or not.

For me at least, but I understand others feel differently. The issue is not so much about whether we will avoid more lockdowns, it is one of how many people will die with a substantial relaxation that would have otherwise lived. One or two days that can be limited, but a week?!

Lockdowns on and off are likely to the spring, yes I agree. That should not signal the attitude of what the hell we might as well enjoy christmas to the max - and believe me it does seem to elicit that kind of response.

Many families that want to do the right thing and keep this christmas small and safe, will be under pressure to put on a big (and to be blunt) more dangerous christmas because they have been given permission to do so. A false sense of security, that somehow for this small period of time we will be safe, but that is not the case! Many pensioners will die because of christmas gatherings, many younger people may be die or have to live with life long covid organ and lung problems.

I don't suppose it will be a free for all, but that is highly reliant on the messaging isn't it. Look at the summer, remember the beaches and the parties. If you tell people to have as few in their homes as possible over christmas, and find many ways of celebrating without killing anyone, then they will listen. If you signal a week's holiday from covid many will grab the chance because they are so fatigued and fed up.

The government does need to keep their nerve, and it has been a sensible and safe christmas, for the sake of everyone.

Yes there will be the idiots that will party like it is 1969 or whatever, leave them to it. It is what the vast majority decide to do that really counts.

**and it has to be a safe and sensible christmas

The government shouldn’t be lifting the restrictions for Christmas.

They should be lifting them full stop.

I wonder how many times the words 'idiots,' 'stupid' and 'selfish' appear throughout this thread... some of you are like parrots.

I think that many people who have been following the rules completely fully intend to mix households at Christmas, even if it isn't allowed. I don't necessarily think to the same large extent as a normal Christmas but it is seen as 'different' or a reasonable exception by many and something to look forward to.

The government have probably realised this will happen regardless of any rules so by allowing it, it's like they're in control as they wouldn't be able to properly police it, especially on Christmas day (and rightly or wrongly it would be another pr disaster for them if they were breaking up Christmas dinners)

Also, 9 months in of covid news is very different to 4/5 months in, in terms of people's fear of or impatience with it. Again, I'm not saying this is right but it is reflective of a lot of people's attitudes.

alec that is a great idea, have you stayed in your local hospital recently?