Temporary bubbles for Xmas

[treesliding]

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.

And for those saying, it won't matter or apply to our multi-household mixing because we won't see the elderly GPs in their 80s...
How old do you think those needing hospital treatment for Covid-19 are? Plenty in their 50s and 60s.

January will be more shit than usual with a post Christmas spike. I'm not sure it's worth it.
I'm not seeing my mum over Christmas because I won't have time to isolate beforehand and then I'll be back in school in my bubble of 200 when they've all been mixing over the festive period. I can see it going a bit wrong...

The details I have seen also states that social distancing should be maintained in the bubbles, can't see that happening.

@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

That's what my teacher OH just said after the news leaked. He's dreading January now.

I’d like to think most people will make a judgement on whether to take up the opportunity to see their family over Christmas based on the risk they pose to each other and what they can do to mitigate it.

I’m really hoping we can spend Christmas with my parents but they are already in a precarious situation for health reasons so DD and I will have to isolate for a fortnight before we go.

I know I’m lucky to be in a position to make this work (self-employed and DD is under school age so won’t be missing education.)

My worst fear re Covid is us passing it on to vulnerable people.

The rules are there for a reason. To protect you and your family from Covid. I wont be meeting anyone. Absolutely a ridiculous notion.
There was a case in New Jersey of 4 members of a family that died of covid.
Utterly tragic and now avoidable.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51978164

The other thing that strikes me is that although we have a solution for our family we are in a very lucky position in that we both work from home and have one child. Plus my partner's employer is closing for two weeks over Christmas. This is not a situation that can be replicated by the vast majority of families who will be desperate to see their loved ones at Xmas.

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

And absolutely this. I am a teacher and absolutely dread going back in January. Kids mixing in households then bringing it in to school.

I personally cannot understand all the fuss over one day of the year. People who are outraged they have to spend Christmas with just those they live with, those who cannot bear the thought of no christmas party and massive gathering. Some people never have that option and they survive every year. This year there will be thousands of families who have lost a love done this year and people are complaining about an interrupted Christmas. Personally we will not see family as we don’t want to risk their health and we will not see DSS who is in a care home and we haven’t seen him since February, but it is what it is and we will make the most of it and be grateful for what we do have, which is more than many other have

@itsgettingweird

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.

You can meet your Mum weekly outside for a walk now...

The things is they are not forcing people to meet up over Christmas. If you don't want to then you don't have to. My DDs both work from their homes, I am retired and DH works form home. None of us are mixing much. If we meet up for Christmas then they go home again no-one is really at risk. It's a decision we will make based on assessing the risks.

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

This. It’ll be like a popularity contest within families. Urgh.

If the government has decreed that "temporary bubbles" are ok from 23rd - 27th December, it is further proof (if any were needed) that lockdowns are not necessary at all. Unless Covid somehow magically knows it's Christmas and will decide not to infect all those people suddenly meeting inside.

I wasn't planning on seeing anyone except my DC anyway, so this makes no difference to me. However, the lockdowns have made a bigger and worse difference to me than anything that I have ever experienced.

What a pile of complete horse manure.

@minipie

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

This. It’ll be like a popularity contest within families. Urgh.

Quite simple - stay at home with just your own household. The rest of the country will be grateful in Jan and Feb when your DC don't close the year-group and your local hospital will be delighted not to have you struggling to breathe on their wards - any of the other people you infect as a carrier in Jan, including nurses, doctors, teachers and all their families. The risk isn't just your own, as a carrier you can ruin hundreds of other people's lives.

The Guardian today is carrying a story that the majority of people in the UK would prefer a locked down Christmas if it means restrictions can be lifted in January.

I agree LurgyOnTheLoose personally I don’t feel Christmas is important enough to create further virus spread.

The popularity contest aspect is a further reason why this plan is not a good idea.

I agree EmmaGrundy - stability for non-essential retail and hospitality (keeping them open) trumps gatherings in homes over Xmas.

I meant keeping them open in January too as I believe that they are reopening in December