Temporary bubbles for Xmas

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news.sky.com/story/covid-19-pms-winter-plan-at-a-glance-what-to-expect-when-lockdown-ends-12138882

Just read this and they are talking about temporary bubbles being allowed for the relaxation days over Xmas - possibly up to 3 households. I guess creating new bubbles and those people being the only people you see reduces risk but likely means some tough decisions across families.

I think its madness. We should be able to manage having a different sort of Christmas for one year. It might mean me not seeing 22 year old DS as he lives with his gf, which will be sad BUT I'd much rather that than having a high Covid rate all through January because people couldn't manage to go through the festive period without seeing extended family.

Allowing a relaxation of the current bubble rules is a recipe for disaster.

The problem with the proposed temporary Xmas bubble is it doesn't protect people from Covid.

This is about profit and poll ratings, not protecting people.

@RichardMarxisinnocent I didn’t actually say that we wouldn’t be following whatever guidelines are set out. Just that the discussion around who goes into what bubble will be difficult while trying to keep the peace

I am disappointed the government value education so low in their priorities since this move will inevitably either lead to yeargroups at home, school closures or mass lockdown with home-learning for all in Jan/Feb. Totally unfair on those who don't want this Christmas virus party at all.

Already know the government don't much care about the NHS, but this will wipe out any elective activity at all in Jan/Feb/March and lead to a huge increase in hospitalisations and deaths in Jan/Feb.

I think it's worth bearing in mind that just because Boris says you can doesn't mean you should. Have this government actually made any sensible decisions throughout this pandemic? Is this Christmas bubble about Boris Johnson trying to be popular after months of rubbish headlines or is he actually doing what is best for your family?

Agreed @LurgyOnTheLoose We have already had won rounds of isolations due to bubbles bursting. I really do not want my DC to miss any more of their education. Teachers have every right to be furious about this madness.

Yeah, I'd still be uncomfortable with being indoors with my Mum for that long tbh, although I really want to spend some time with her. It doesn't seem safe, I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her. She will want to see us all she has four kids in total it would be six households, which certainly won't be allowed? And even though she'd risk it I just can't. I might sit this one out make it an easier decision for her.

DH is ECV so other than making DD1 returning to school January more risky it doesn’t change anything for us.

I guarantee most will just take it as a 4 family rule at any time

So 4 families missing Xmas day - one side of family

Another side or family Boxing Day

Friends for new year

Most people I know were planning that anyway regardless of it being allowed

No way will people mix with only one side of family

@Benjispruce2

I think should only be 2 days. Cases will go through the roof!

That would be stupid for us. My DDs who live in London would like to come up and spend Christmas with us in Scotland. There is no way it would be worth their while schlepping up here just for two days. In fact, once they are here what difference does 2 days, 5 days or 10 days make?

I’m not a conspiracy theorist by far but I do wonder how much of this is one behavioural experiment.

They know schools are big Covid pits. They are sending home uni students so they don’t spread Covid with them at Christmas. They are going to let people mingle in large groups, freely, just after finishing school. So the kids can take the virus to Granny.

They are either taking the piss or it really isn’t as bad as all that. (Although I know it is because I work in a school and I’ve seen how ill adults and children are getting).

@Itisasecret

I’m not a conspiracy theorist by far but I do wonder how much of this is one behavioural experiment.

They know schools are big Covid pits. They are sending home uni students so they don’t spread Covid with them at Christmas. They are going to let people mingle in large groups, freely, just after finishing school. So the kids can take the virus to Granny.

They are either taking the piss or it really isn’t as bad as all that. (Although I know it is because I work in a school and I’ve seen how ill adults and children are getting).

If people have elderly relatives then they wold be pretty stupid to visit them for Christmas no matter what the rules are. Just because its allowed doesn't mean they have to do it. I really hope people with school kids aren't stupid and don't go and visit more vulnerable people.

I don't think many people will adhere to the rules, whatever they may be.

Three bubbles over three days is more than enough. Fewer days is less risk. People will push it. My nursing friends are all mixing households in a high risk area anyway.
I'd forego it all to keep the schools open in the New Year and see my two exam year DC getting an uninterrupted education.

@cptartapp

Three bubbles over three days is more than enough. Fewer days is less risk. People will push it. My nursing friends are all mixing households in a high risk area anyway. I'd forego it all to keep the schools open in the New Year and see my two exam year DC getting an uninterrupted education.

It's not three bubbles over three days, it's three households in a bubble, so just one bubble.

No way is easy for many people.

I have a support bubble with a friend. Both single, both have autistic teens who are also friends.

My family is 4 households. Parents and mum on chemo. Me and ds, sister and DN and my brother lives alone.

Sister and parents in childcare bubble.

So I lose my friendship bubble to see my family. And if it's 3 which if us don't form the family bubble?
Baring in mind this maybe mums last Christmas.

It's awful. Personally I'd rather we had longer lesser restrictions when I could meet mum weekly outside for a walk or at costa.

I have an eight year old in school and my only option is to take him out for a week and for us all to self isolate for 14 days before seeing them over Xmas

There's an online petition trying to encourage schools to do exactly that (close early)

We’ve already made the decision to have a Christmas with just the four of us. Normally we would have my parents here for the day but they’re in their late 80s and unless we self isolated for the 14 days before the 25th (which wouldn’t be possible as our eldest is a teacher and our youngest can’t work from home) it’s really not worth the risk just for a glorified Sunday lunch. We can do that at a later date when it’s safe to do so.

We won’t be seeing my in laws either, my sister in law already has more bubbles than an Aero with her adult children and families and her parents and a family friend.

DP and I are spending the day alone this year because we don't want to make whatever choices are going to be asked for.

It wouldn't be fair on whoever gets left out.

Just because you’re allowed to mix doesn’t mean you have to. No way am I going to mix inside with my parents knowing that the dc have been in school. It’s just a day, I would prefer to wait and see them when there are less cases and less risk.

This. ^ Covid isn't taking Xmas off, the risk is still there. I'd rather skip this Xmas and have my parents live to see a few more than risk infecting them.

Raccoon with the kindest possible way of saying this, that is very naive. Before half term people were actively avoiding tests, not SI and all the rest of it so they didn’t have to isolate when DC’s are off over half term.

Christmas will be ten times worse. People are that stupid and selfish. Which is why this will be a disaster with schools open right until Christmas.

It's really hard because the children need to see their other parent at Christmas and that works with COVID rules and they are under 18.

However they will then be seeing their grandparents and other family members at the same time.

We will hopefully be doing the same with our parents.

How does that work as clearly it's too many people!

The family fall outs this is going to cause will be absolute hell

At least the threads about them will provide amusement through a long, lockdown period from January, with added Brexit chaos.

I also think this is showing yet again that no one cares about teachers. Everyone mixes over Christmas then send the kids back to school. Must be yet another kick in the teeth for them

@ActionsLike

I also think this is showing yet again that no one cares about teachers. Everyone mixes over Christmas then send the kids back to school. Must be yet another kick in the teeth for them

Yes, I feel sorry for the teachers, but also the DC of responsible parents who are not mixing with any other households (even at Christmas), whose only bubble is their DC's year-group at school.

The government delaying the current lockdown until after half-term so people would spend money caused a lot of year-group/whole school closures. That was one week of half-term when I think the rule of 6 applied. What on earth will 5 days of multi-household mixing at Christmas lead to? Total chaos, DC being deprived of in-school education, teachers and their families at risk, NHS workers and their families at risk from lots of Covid-19 spewing patients in hospital in January and February.

What the hell are the governments of the 4 nations thinking of? Who the hell is advising them?