Telegraph tomorrow, Christmas relaxed

[MummaPI]

Just seen the front page on the telegraph but can't read online with subscribing.
Says Boris to announce Christmas rules next week but likely to be 21st-28th.
My first thought was "I don't normally see people every day for this long at Christmas anyway!!"
If anyone can read it and add more info, that would be great. I know its nothing definite but there has been a habit of leaving to the press before announcing.

To discourage travel is why I'd limit the days!

Sheep and cow, how can you think that when the top tier of gov has fallen and the pm himself has been in ic!

This is so depressing. I hope not.

What’s the point in stirring it all up again. Idiots if so.

"Fucking hell. Some people work Christmas while everyone else is having this jolly and won’t be able to see family at new year instead."

Yep and they've got a pay freeze to boot....to add to the past 7,8,9 (I've lost count) pay freeze they've already had.

Clap for your key workers my arse

I don't see how this helps the economy. So many people are buying now, office parties are late Nov/early Dec. - usual Christmas activities with children take place before Christmas. I know families who take the decks down and Christmas is finished on Boxing Day.

Staying safe with no visitors or visits this year. Too many vulnerable people who I'd be at risk of infecting.

I read the article this morning in disbelief.

We will, according to the telegraph, remain in a lockdown until Christmas week when we will be able to mingle and enjoy a normal christmas for one week before another lockdown.

If that is not a recipe for disaster I really don't know what is

I can't see how this helps the economy either. Going to visit family won't do anything for the economy.

As much ad I’m desperate to hear my parents for Christmas I don’t think it should be at the expense of shops and businesses having to stay closed during their busiest time.

Me either (re economy). The lockdown to make up for it certainly will though.

What can we do? Feel annoyed they are being so stupid.

I guess it will gives the pubs a chance to make a bit of money.

The pubs will be closed until the week before christmas, I am not sure how it helps them to be open for three days.

The government seem to think that people will just ignore the restrictions and do what they want anyway, however most people we know have already planned for a small and safe christmas, those that have the elderly and terminally ill to care for will be making their own arrangements around their needs.

Open all shops and restaurants limiting numbers on the 3rd of December. Not pubs at all. Keep christmas to 2/3 days - with one or two households and single person bubbles. That would be the most sensible approach. Save as much of the economy as possible, limit the days when people can gather, and limit the carnage in January.

No one needs a week long christmas.
No needs a five day christmas.
Christmas is ONE day! Lets stick with that.

A large proportion of people listen to the messages and stick to guidance.

They get why encouraging a mass spreading event so close to a vaccine (but not close enough) is a bad idea. Don’t encourage them to act differently to this. Madness.

I'm OK with a low key Christmas. I am not OK with having loads of restrictions for weeks on end so that some other people can have a massive pile on for a few days.

Do they to think of how people tend to react before lockdown with regard these decisions, if it is just for a few days there will be loads of crowds / queues etc. Especially if have not been open before and people try and do last minute Christmas shopping etc.

I wonder how this feels for the families who had Eid cancelled the day before

Opening the pubs 3 days before Christmas is an absolute recipe for disaster. It will be carnage with everyone off work.

@MarshaBradyo

This is so depressing. I hope not.

What’s the point in stirring it all up again. Idiots if so.

Agree. It is not what the majority of people want, having read several threads on this topic in the past week. It just isn't what most people want, so why do it? We will still buy Christmas presents so there is no need to relax rules for commercial reasons. It is reckless and irresponsible and totally unfair on those who have abided by the rules and are perfectly happy with a quiet Christmas and just want virus numbers kept down as low as possible for as long as possible, with the hope that January won't be too bad. As I have suggested before, the government is missing a huge trick by not taking advantage of the quiet Christmas week/fortnight when schools are closed anyway and many people are off work anyway. Very few people want to 'pay' for virus transmission at Christmas with extra restrictions afterwards. I think it is fine to keep restrictions but create exemptions for those in difficult circumstances (terminal illness, bereavement, continuation of support bubbles etc).

Maybe the point of the telegraph article is to test public opinion. Perhaps Allegra and Carrie will log on to mn today, read this thread, then advise Boris to change his policy accordingly

Public opinion shouldn’t matter though. They should be doing everything they can for the NHS and to keep cases and deaths down. Lots of other festivals have been and gone under lockdown so no different.

I hope the scientists win the argument and Scotland etc don’t agree to it.

Generally I’ve been at odds on some topics but it seems we are all mostly aligned on this. Crazy to go ahead. I very much hope it doesn’t happen.

It is a ridiculously long window in a way. Maybe encourage and ask people not to but also don't impose fines over the 4 days from 24-27

I know if this goes ahead my friend is going to take it as the green light to arrange a party with her friends and expect me to be there when I just want to see my family and her (without all of her extended group of friends)

@AethelsWhiteGoose

Maybe the point of the telegraph article is to test public opinion. Perhaps Allegra and Carrie will log on to mn today, read this thread, then advise Boris to change his policy accordingly

God I hope so. Please listen to the majority opinion - we have had enough of the virus and are happy to stay at home quietly. Please don't let a minority spoil it for the rest of us who just want virus transmission and deaths to keep going down. The government seem to be treating it like a Christmas overdraft that they will pay back in January. But health and lives don't work that way - you can't 'pay' it back once it's gone.

I really don’t want a relaxation at Christmas if the case numbers don’t point to that. What a waste of time this lockdown will be otherwise.

I don’t say that lightly, my dd’s birthday falls in December and family members have birthdays during Christmas week too, but my god do I just want this shit under control.

We can travel, exchange presents and have a big meal at any time.

What’s the point in all this sacrifice just to undo it all for the sake of a few days?

7 days is ridiculous. 2 or 3 fine, but a week?! Why?