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.

@Yesyoudoknowme

I am so sorry to hear this

As others have said, you never know what is around the corner, we definitely need Christmas.
Having a lockdown in January sounds good to me too.
I also agree that schools should be shut for a while, maybe before Christmas to allow the grandparents to mix with families safely ( not to mention the teachers wanting to see their elderly parents).

Not read every post but what I'd do is not either "have Christmas" or "cancel Christmas". I'd announce that Christmas meet-ups will obviously spread the virus and you should avoid travelling or meeting up if possible. People who have relatives they have to see or look after can do that, but anyone who can stay at home should. There are a ton of people who do not want to travel or see relatives at Christmas, but feel they have to. If we were asked not to do it except in urgent cases, a whole ton of people would happily have a good excuse to stay at home.

Instead if you have a "wahey we've "earned" Christmas so everyone can have fun!" thing, many more people will end up doing it.

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

I've said this before and I'll say it again.

My dad had stage 4 cancer. There's a very strong chance this may be his last Christmas.

So no, cancel your own Christmas if you like but many people in my position and similar will be trying to keep Christmas as normal as we can.

I've stuck to all the rules, I haven't been near a pub and only sent my child to school because I don't want him to lose his place.

All because I am focussing on that 1 day at Christmas when I can see my family properly.

So fuck you

I am sure that any rule won't apply to people who are terminally ill. People suggesting that in those circumstances it would be selfish to meet up.

I think there is some confusion on this thread.

We can all have, and should have, our own private Christmas, with decorations, a nice meal at home, etc.

Another issue is having a wider family Christmas, with different households around a busy table, with no ventilation, all talking loudly, laughing, etc.
This is a recipe for disaster. Any infectious person around those tables, sitting on those living rooms, will pass it on to most people there.

I meant to say people aren't suggesting it would be selfish to meet up if someone is terminally ill.

I think people will see their family at Christmas if they want. To most people, even most elderly people, the likelihood of dying of coronavirus is incredibly slim and people will either live in fear or live.

Do you think mince pies are pagan and idolatrous, OP?

Yes I agree, Christmas isn't cancelled anyway because you can do it at home. But for a lot of people, the big family get-together, whether they like it or not, is the thing that's supposed to be central to it all.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Maybe we should just do away with it all. Why have a lockdown and cost people jobs when people will ignore anything when it suits them anyway so it will be spiking again. Just fuck it all, open the businesses and let everyone do what they want and workers make their wages.🤷🏻

We could also use this as an opportunity to get rid of nuclear weapons for once and all. Russia, USA, China, U.K., France, Israel, India and Pakistan and any others just fire those missiles around, let’s get all that shit out of those bunkers and submarines and get them launched and over and done with. Then we won’t have to worry about them anymore.

People are seriously over thinking this i feel. In reality the massive families who live close by to one another will (for the most part) adjust to suit ages/health and whether or not they have seen each other regardless during the last year.

Smaller families will just remain as they are (like ours) and potentially will only see people if they isolate beforehand, which many will to suit my mum who has Leukaemia- my brother and SIL will isolate before but we may not see them on Christmas Day/Boxing Day- That is all!

The remaining jackasses have been jackasses throughout and will continue to be into 2021 and beyond.

Common sense dictates here massively.

If you have a terminally ill relative you will of course ensure you see them but take every precaution to ensure you don't have them with tubes in their lungs in their last days!

The frantic media coverage of Christmas and the impact is being overplayed to spread fear!

@Lweji she lives 200 miles from me, so no I'm not risking her health.

If we don't end the lockdown around Christmas, when will we be doing it? Shall I just keep waiting with no idea of when I can see my family again?

Sod that, no.

@flourandeggs

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.

This. I find it so rude that Eid and Diwali were 'cancelled' and we are making all this fuss about Christmas. Especially when for a probably sizeable portion of us (myself included) its really not about religion at all.

The problem if it is cancelled (i.e lockdown, no mixing households) as raised by previous posters is that so many people will ignore the rules that it will be pointless. It's not all intentionally rule-breaking people (I mean the sort who refuse to wear a mask because they think it's all a conspiracy and have parties etc), it will be people who will think where's the harm in inviting DH's parents over for Christmas day, my parents on boxing day and we'll see our siblings, friends etc on new year's eve or the days between. Or as others have pointed out relatives who are terminally ill, alone etc, yes you can form support bubbles but what are you supposed to do if you have multiple relatives in need and they place restrictions on numbers of households mixing? How on earth can you expect people to pick who gets the family Christmas and who has to be alone this year.

So many families who have already missed out on time together they will think it's not too bad if they just have a couple of friends or relatives over because they are all covid free, it's a one-off..it is Christmas after all. Those who don't want to take the risk won't, but there are plenty of people who can and will regardless of any rules in place There will be millions and millions of families who just want to spend precious time with loved ones over what for some people is the most important time of year for them and you have a massive covid spike in the making.

As previously mentioned it would be political suicide to say Christmas is cancelled but they also can't be seen to just relax all rules because Santa's on his way, so a fixed period and then severe restrictions either side sounds more reasonable. If they had any sense they would close (secondary) schools early for Christmas to try and reduce the infection rate whilst opening businesses back up (on 3rd December) to boost the economy and save jobs. Relax restrictions December 23rd-26th (but still encouraging low key celebrations) go briefly back to tiered restrictions (27th-30th). Then January 2nd have a 2-week strict circuit breaker; all but essential shops closed, schools closed (except vulnerable/Keyworker kids), 1 outdoor exercise, no mixing at all (apart from childcare for parents who need to work), everything back open on the 18th and then hopefully any infection spike from the Christmas/new year get together's will have been contained as much as possible.

I think perhaps the govt should say that:

Christmas Day get togethers aren’t banned and there will be no arrests for this on Christmas Day BUT they remain a very dangerous idea and people are advised not to do it.

[quote Munchickle38]@AlternativePerspective

Just cancel Christmas and give us an extra bank holiday next year to make up for it.
No

schools need to be closed now until the end of January.
No[/quote]
And thrice No.

The thing is, there is no need to gather all the family around a terminally ill person.

If I was that person, the last thing I'd want would be to have covid spread in the rest of the family just because they all got together at the same time.

We can plan a Christmas in which we can be with people, but with less people together at the same time, and without risking the wider family's health.

I have an elderly mother, although healthy, but I have learned that anything can happen very quickly.
There are 3 siblings, and thus three households.
We are planning on being with her over Christmas at some point, but separately, and not during a meal, which would most likely happen in different rooms.
Two are physicians, two of us work with the public to some extent, five are in school, and one is probably travelling home by plane from overseas.

Because we do want to do our best to have her around for many more years.
And because we do not know how any of us would cope with covid.

We've kept safe so far, we wouldn't want Christmas to be ruined by having covid run through the family

[quote GooseWhiskers]@Lweji she lives 200 miles from me, so no I'm not risking her health.

If we don't end the lockdown around Christmas, when will we be doing it? Shall I just keep waiting with no idea of when I can see my family again?

Sod that, no.[/quote]
I'm not sure if you have heard that they are rolling out vaccinations early next year or maybe even at the end of this year . I was planning to see my parents once they have been vaccinated. They are over 80 so maybe January or February.

This. I find it so rude that Eid and Diwali were 'cancelled' and we are making all this fuss about Christmas. Especially when for a probably sizeable portion of us (myself included) its really not about religion at all.

Easter was cancelled also.

Christmas is very very important to the economy, a lot of people see to forget that.

@Lweji she lives 200 miles from me, so no I'm not risking her health.

So, you will over Christmas?

My MIL lives alone, 70 miles away. She hadn't seen her GD since the beginning of the year except by FaceTime.
She doesn't go out, though she's not shielding. She normally comes to us for Christmas, DP thinks she should come regardless. I don't want to break the rules but I can't bear the thought of her alone at Xmas.

I'm not sure if you have heard that they are rolling out vaccinations early next year or maybe even at the end of this year . I was planning to see my parents once they have been vaccinated.

Don't count on any vaccinations any time that soon.

If there are any released soon, they will likely go to small groups of people.
The logistics are immense.

The last I read, even syringe makers say it will be very difficult to produce equipment for vaccination in few months.

“If we don't end the lockdown around Christmas, when will we be doing it? Shall I just keep waiting with no idea of when I can see my family again?”

The coronavirus act is in place for two years.

Please, if you haven’t already written to
MPs etc, do.

@Makedo

Sigh- I would of course like to see family, but I am worried about the impact and Will follow the rules. What upsets me most though is if we say there is an amnesty on x dates over Christmas then those of us who are key workers working will not get to.see family. I am only working 1 day and I am lucky not to work in health care, but it makes me really angry that those that do and have had the hardest year of their working lives will not get to see family because they are having to work.

I hope any system put in places takes into account that those working over Christmas also deserve to see family.

Really good point

@Lweji

I'm not sure if you have heard that they are rolling out vaccinations early next year or maybe even at the end of this year . I was planning to see my parents once they have been vaccinated.

Don't count on any vaccinations any time that soon.

If there are any released soon, they will likely go to small groups of people.
The logistics are immense.

The last I read, even syringe makers say it will be very difficult to produce equipment for vaccination in few months.

I understand the logistics due to my job. I still think there is a good chance my parents will be vaccinated in the first quarter of next year, particularly as they are over 80. There's no way I'm going to give up and risk their health in the meantime.