Christmas needs to be cancelled.

[AlternativePerspective]

So the suggestion to make it possible for the world to go and be super spreaders at Christmas is to stay in lockdown until Christmas, then open up for five days, then go back into lockdown for another 25 days (at least), five days for every day we’re out of lockdown.

Are people really that desperate to have a get together they could have at any other time of the year, maybe in the summer when this pandemic is under control, that they’re willing to spend months in lockdown to achieve it? Really?

My personal opinion is that it is our duty as a society to have a low key Christmas regardless of whether they take this ridiculous measure or not.

I understand that for some they want to see family at Christmas, but these ridiculous suggestions have gone too far.

Just cancel Christmas and give us an extra bank holiday next year to make up for it.

I get fed up with hearing about Christmas. People need to get a grip if they can't cope with the fact that it shouldn't be the same as usual. There's no way I'm going to see my parents and no way would they want to. In contrast to some of the comments on here some 80+ -year-olds can cope without seeing their grandchildren for a bit. They will probably be vaccinated soon so why take the risk now?

I think there is an acceptance of restrictions either side of Christmas for this to happen and the impact to be minimised.

That's the point of this thread. Just because you accept it, doesn't mean everyone else feels the same.

Why not, it picks up the pieces of smokers, overeaters, sky divers, skateboarders, tree climbers etc etc?

The difference is that healthcare workers and other patients are unlikely to catch the smoker's COPD or lung cancer, or the overeater's heart attack, or the skateboarder's broken leg, as a result of being close to them. Covid is a different matter from that point of view.

I asked this on a previous 'cancel christmas' thread. Funnily enough it's not a unique idea. I say it every year.

My question is:

If all my parties test negative for covid 48-72 hours before Christmas day, why can't we get together? Covid can hardly spread if it's not present.

It is not cancelled it is just different and low key. Take sensible precautions. Our family have decided that we will all have Christmas in our own homes, Mum will come to me there will be 3 of us only and she will be in my bubble. The others will be with their immediate family.
We will be sensible, make sure we limit any contact 7 days before and if anyone is ill we will adapt.
Of course if your mum/dad is seriously ill then you don't want them on their own at Christmas and of course you want to be with them.
I am sure you will being your best to minimise the risk.
We need to be sensible, we can't keep blaming the government, in the end we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our loved ones.

Sorry I will be seeing my family at Christmas, I'm not leaving my nan alone and the cousins are desperate to see each other.
If you and others don't want to see family you don't have to, don't dictate what you believe to be the best course of action. We will not be having massive parties, celebrating New Years or even going to the pubs / restaurants, but we will be seeing each other in our homes.

It's the 70 plus grandparents who won't abide by it. How can you tell people who know that it's statistically likely that they might develop a health condition of old age by next Christmas, that they mustn't meet family for this Christmas? Just in case they catch covid, which statistically is unlikely to kill them?

You reckon? My parents and their friends are mostly over 80 and more than happy to not meet up with their family on Christmas Day this year if it means that they can live for a few more years in relatively good health. The chance of death if they catch it is quite high and even if they don't die the quality of their life afterwards will probably be much lower.

@ddl1

Why not, it picks up the pieces of smokers, overeaters, sky divers, skateboarders, tree climbers etc etc?

The difference is that healthcare workers and other patients are unlikely to catch the smoker's COPD or lung cancer, or the overeater's heart attack, or the skateboarder's broken leg, as a result of being close to them. Covid is a different matter from that point of view.

The difference wasn't the point though. The original statemet was that the NHS isn't here to pick up the pieces, I was just pointing out that it does for other illnesses.

Well there would be ways to limit the spread...

Close the travel networks so people can’t move from area to area and spread the virus accordingly.
Frankly OP you can FRO. I live alone. This pandemic has been fucking lonely. I will be going 200 miles home for Christmas. Period.

Not everyone has the straight forward ability to cancel Christmas op.

There are so many reasons why it's important we try and allow some form of togetherness where needed.

Those alone, the elderly, those who are terminally ill, imagine how it might feel if you're told no one can do anything including visiting your dying loved one?

The effect lockdown has had on a great many people will be around for long after the virus.

I don't know what the answer is but I don't think causing more fear and anxiety is the way to do it.

Please feel free to cancel your Christmas, should you so wish but kindly leave the rest of us to crack on with the celebrations. Thanks

It shouldn’t be cancelled, but a few restrictions should suffice, I would quite like the excuse not to have extended family over for dinner though

If all my parties test negative for covid 48-72 hours before Christmas day, why can't we get together? Covid can hardly spread if it's not present.

I thought that too but who is to say you wouldn't test negative on one day but positive the next? You don't immediately test positive the minute you come into contact with it.

I also predict a major shortage of tests around this time because everyone will have the same idea.

@Faultymain5

I asked this on a previous 'cancel christmas' thread. Funnily enough it's not a unique idea. I say it every year. My question is:

If all my parties test negative for covid 48-72 hours before Christmas day, why can't we get together? Covid can hardly spread if it's not present.

Obviously it reduces the risk but even if you test negative, it could be incubating and you could be infectious 48 to 72 hours later. If it was that easy, there would be no cases in the White House.

Think what you like, people won't be cancelling Christmas regardless of the bullshit rules, myself included.

@Oooohbehave

Think what you like, people won't be cancelling Christmas regardless of the bullshit rules, myself included.

Some people will mix much less. I'm certainly not going to risk giving it to any elderly relatives.

"Cancelling" Christmas is a bit dramatic, isn't it Op? As others have pointed out, December 25th exists on the calendar, no matter how you acknowledge the date. But the government thinking they can announce "Right! Get to it! Off we go for 5 days to celebrate" is irresponsible at best.

My DF is dying and it will be his last Christmas. No way on earth am I “cancelling” Christmas for him and my devastated mother so they can sit at home alone. We will also have my disabled BiL with us or he will be alone as his wife left him this summer. Call me selfish if you like, I actually don’t give a fuck. We’ve been scrupulously careful from the beginning and we have already lost my other BiL to COVID at the beginning of the first Lockdown but we have to think of our loved ones’ sanity too. As for January lockdown, it will happen regardless I think.

I think "What are you giving Granny for Christmas this year? Covid-19?" needs to be on advertising posters everywhere.

So not, ''What are you giving Granny for Christmas this year? A hug? The first she's had for months?'' then!

It is bonkers. What about all the other religious festivals that couldn't go ahead this year, with very little fuss made by the people affected by those decisions. We are a multi faith country, why should one faith's celebration be protected? I am shocked by people who are going to see their elderly vulnerable family, I just hope they fork out on a covid test first rather than presents.

The problem is that restrictions mean no work and no income for some though, many of whom have had little work this year. The govt schemes do not extend to everyone, some of whom have had much of the year unwaged. Thinking in particular of leisure sector. Many self-employed here and unless over 3 years of tax returns, either no help or extremely limited. For me, 5 months so far. There are not the jobs out there to just find something else so main preoccupation is money and work not Xmas.

Very sorry for people with ill relatives though everyone is affected in varying ways.

There will be testing issues around Christmas due to the usual festive staff shortages and everyone having the same idea and getting tests they don’t need. Also the rates really likely to soar at this time of year. Remember January is the worst month for hospital admissions. If you do accidentally infect a relative there might not be a bed for them. While I sympathise with those with terminally ill relatives, they will have to make absolutely sure they don’t pass the virus to them. I suggest a period of isolation before hand.

@ancientgran

Okay, so you think there’ll be ample drivers and other associates for trains available to run trains on Boxing Day? I presume you want all these trains to run on Xmas eve and Boxing Day with strict social distancing too? What is the obsession with trains? Does everyone who celebrates Christmas travel by train? Some families live a short distance apart, some people have cars, some people use the bus.

Maybe the govt should allow a limited relaxation at Christmas but with restrictions on travel. Just allowing a free for all isn't sensible is it. You worry about enough train drivers, well what about enough NHS staff in January? Have you thought about them?

Have you hit your head on something? Do you actually think there are few enough public transport users at Christmas that they can all safely travel on the same day, and you propose that as a method of preventing a surge in serious airborne virus cases in January?

The virus will never be eradicated, look at the flu, TB etc. They are all still around, with vaccines, and those mutate as will this virus.
The first lockdown done nothing but delay the spread - and the majority of people did comply.
The NHS was on it's knees before this, why didn't anyone give a toss then? The cancers and other diseases haven't gone away, C19 is not the only thing 'killing' people which, if you look at the figures, death rates for C19 are the lowest now, but infections are higher. This also doesn't mean anything because of the false positives, tests are widely available now as well. Over 90% of the population recover from it.

Christmas will go ahead, rules or not. It is about time people thought about more than C19. Suicides, mental health, people losing homes, business, everything. So easy to judge and call people selfish.

People are discussing this as if their reasons are valid - they are but the will not change the outcome.

If we all get together at Christmas there will be more spread.

This will mean more deaths and it will mean busier hospitals. It will also mean a longer lockdown which will cause an impact on jobs and businesses.

People need to be aware of how their choices will affect society. Just because we want it or need it could be a shortsighted decision that means we actually see our loved ones less in the long term.

Also remember that many families do not have the option of being with loved ones this Christmas as they have already died of Covid or the impact of Covid this year.