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?

@MercyBooth

I thought the month long lockdown we are having NOW was to enable Christmas. More fucking gaslighting and emotional blackmail

This!

I think 5 days would be too much. 1-2 days, possibly.

But that would have to include businesses being allowed to do some Christmas business during December and squeeze what they can out of it for their survival.

No, it's crazy, but people will do what they want anyway, aren't we already seeing the consequences?

No.

I think most people reconciled themselves to not having a normal Christmas ages ago.

I mean, in the context of everything else - 50,000+ deaths, untold economic devastation, people losing their jobs and businesses - Christmas seems exceptionally trivial.

Dear god, bread and bloody circuses, isn't it?

Speaking VERY selfishly, no I don't want another month of lockdown to pay for everyone else's partying, because we as a family won't be seeing any of our extended family, for a range of reasons but mostly because we want them to remain safe. They're elderly and vulnerable. Having a month back on lockdown after enjoying a family Christmas with granny and grandpa isn't going to be some sort of magic wand to protect them - the excess Covid deaths that will happen because of any Christmas relaxation will be happening in the families who have proper traditional multi-generational family Christmases. :-(

That said, I find the whole thing heartbreaking anyway and really, really feel for people who have aged relatives who may well not see another Christmas.

But no, who said the bloody holiday was going to last 5 days, and no to another 25 days of lockdown to pay for it. Like others on here, I thought we were being sold the current lockdown as a carrot for a few days relaxation over Christmas, so what the fuck is this about?!

I don't know. I think people will ignore the rules anyway over Christmas, and so this is just a way to look like there is a plan to bless us with largesse. If people ignore the rules anyway cases will rocket (pretty much a perfect storm, families from all around the country travelling and staying indoors closely for days on end) so might as well plan for that eventuality, I guess?

The economy will be fucked but less fucked by things being closed in January than December...

Absolutely not. Education and the economy should take priority over socialising. I'd agree with anyone alone being able to join another household (maybe that is already allowed under support bubbles?) but otherwise for goodness sake it's hardly the end of the world if Christmas is done differently for one year.

We've already decided whatever the rules it will just be us and (school age) DC, and I'll be very resentful if their education is disrupted in January or we have more lockdowns and businesses going bust because other people mix households at Christmas.

@SuperbGorgonzola People wont buy presents if Christmas is restricted

Mine will be going back for a refund.

I mean, what are we, bloody children?? I am SO fucking furious at the government constantly pushing the mirage of a 'normal Christmas' at us if we're good and do our time. We are not children: we realised and for the most part, accepted, a long time ago that Christmas 2020 was going to be different (and for many of us, a bit crap). I'm fed up with being patronised by Boris and his chums. I want us to get out of this as fast as possible, not to play happy families while trying not to cough on grandma.

I'll be very resentful if their education is disrupted in January

If they do this, education will almost certainly be affected.

I think it’s a crazy idea. Why 5 days?!

Why are people under the impression things will be ‘back to normal’ after this lockdown lol might as well have a few days of ‘freedom’. Those ‘25 days to pay for it’ will happen regardless in some way or another

Im not going to party. Im planning to visit one household Thats it.

Like others on here, I thought we were being sold the current lockdown as a carrot for a few days relaxation over Christmas, so what the fuck is this about

THIS FUCKING THIS.

Im so fucking angry right now i just want to throw in the towel and...................fuck it.

Why would you send presents back? Surely you send/deliver them to people anyway?

I don't always spend Christmas with my extended family but I still but parents/PIL/nieces and nephews gifts

I'd rather have some freedoms now and a Christmas with my own household. I can't visit family anyway, the family I'd normally visit are particularly vulnerable this year (chemo).

It's also pretty insulting for Muslim Britons, I imagine, to remember the government's actions on the eve of Eid in Greater Manchester, and contrast it with what they're saying about Christmas.

Yes. The economy is pretty much at a standstill in January anyway in terms of eating out/shopping. Christmas alone will be too much for many with depression/suffering domestic violence.

No. I think people will break lockdown whatever so why should the whole country to go into lockdown

@MercyBooth me too!! With fucking bells on!!

In fact I just tried to have a conversation with my DH about it and we ended up having a stupid argument because he said I was being too angry and I then got annoyed with him for not getting angry enough about all this too!!! Ridiculous but just another one of the thousand unwelcome side effects of this fucking pandemic that I am seriously starting to think suits the government a little too well. Like another poster said just now, we are NOT fucking children

The rich had their ski trips They had their Cheltenham (whats the betting there is a lockdown to save Cheltenham 2021) They had their holidays in the summer. As someone who rents, who has done these lockdowns in a tiny flat who hasnt been abroad since the 80s, does not go to pubs or restaurants I want my family Christmas.
In this months Good Housekeeping it states that the Samaritans usually get 400,000 calls throughout December, 11,000 on Christmas Day alone. IMO there is a good chance it could be worse this year if the Government put restrictions in place. Also i would bet a penny to a pinch of shit that MPs and advisors will want to see their families regardless but wont want another Barnard Castle type scandal. Because lets face it the papers and journos will be watching them like hawks to see if they do practice what they preach. And after watching Dispatches Lockdown Chaos and the PPE and testing scandals im tired of being made a mug of while they cash in. For some people this could well be their last Christmas. Covid is not the only killer And dont forget the MPs took their summer recess rather than work through it to get this sorted. So Covid not serious enough to cancel their summer recess but serious enough to stop ppl seeing their families at Christmas?

And those elderly relatives who normally go to family members on Christmas Day may need an employed carer to go in that day instead. This has to be factored in as well

Ask any small business owner who is currently shut (myself included) and the answer is a no brainier.

Allow small business to reopen and ask people to spend Christmas with members of their own household or genuine support bubbles only.

No, seriously WTF. Dying of boredom already!

@onemouseplace

No. I honestly think it's an absolutely barking idea - if it is safe to meet up to 4 households indoors over a period of 5 days, then why are we in lockdown right now?

Why are we in lockdown now?!

@MercyBooth

Like others on here, I thought we were being sold the current lockdown as a carrot for a few days relaxation over Christmas, so what the fuck is this about

THIS FUCKING THIS.

Im so fucking angry right now i just want to throw in the towel and...................fuck it.

And this too. BJ said it would be until the start of December only.

No.
I won't be seeing any family over Christmas anyway (they live too far away).
We've been shielding since March and are going quietly mad.
It's my birthday in January and I'd like to live to see it.