Christmas is saved

[MiaMarshmallows]

So happy that my partner and big family can all be together this year. We are all really close and get on brilliantly. So pleased at the news today!

They can say what they like , but I'm sure a huge percentage of people will not abide by the rules and have lots mixing on Christmas Day and so on.
We won't be as my family are older and have their own families to mix with etc but many will carry on as usual I'm sure of it.

We discussed this at home last night and said that it's not worth the risk for a few days. My parents are both over 70 and my two dds have auto immune diseases. We said we would rather they be here for next Christmas. Thankfully when I spoke to my parents, they agreed. We'll zoom call and open secret Santa pressies, but that'll be it.

for those that says Boris just wants to be liked , you do realise it is other MPs who have been putting huge pressure on to lift the lockdown don't you ?

considering the country has been split done the middle about 50 50 on every decision ( as have the scientists) I should think he knows he is in a no win position anyway.

personally like I said we will use our own common sense as we have CEV members of our family and I have lost family to covid as well

So I will follow the part of the guidance that says use your common sense and personal responsibility .

@Unsure33 you may use common sense but judging by the response of far too many this year, many do not. And personal responsibility was abolished by Tony Blair's government, hence the growth of ambulance chasing claims companies.

My MIL is over 70 but planning on a holiday in the Canaries before Christmas. My DDs are missing out I’m on so much to protect those more vulnerable who are carrying on like there’s no pandemic.

@MiaMarshmallows

So happy that my partner and big family can all be together this year. We are all really close and get on brilliantly. So pleased at the news today!

Bait

Yes it's true it's about more than Boris wanting to be popular. He's under pressure from the extreme right of his party. Under these extraordinary circumstances he should be willing to accept Labour help with any restrictions vote. The parties should be prepared to work together - just like they did during WW2. Boris should know that appeasement doesn't usually work. At least not long-term. These extreme right wingers might yet still jump ship to Farage's new party.

No grandparents visiting at Christmas here, as they're vulnerable and will be exposed to me (been face to face teaching uni students) and DC's who've been in school. Why the hell should the majority of the non vulnerable British population suffer yet more restrictions in January because selfish, and I'm sorry to say it thick British people think it will somehow magic away and be ok for their elderly relatives?! I thought it was about not overwhelming the NHS? I'm alright Jack surfaces yet again. Luckily all the grandparents in our family are NOT selfish and understand they can't mingle with us, indoors, for hours!! Outside walks aren't doable either due to traveling issues. We'll meet them, outside during the break, for an hour or so safely.

[quote Unsure33]@SheepandCow

No they are not because they have clearly said use your common sense .
Every family set up is individual and from what I have seen people were just go ahead and damn the government anyway .

just because the rules have been relaxed does NOT mean you have to do anything at all .

Do you think the british public are a bunch of lemmings and if they are that's the governments fault ?[/quote]
The problem is it's as much about morals as it is common sense. Both lacking in far too many people in this country.

50,000+ have died with the disease, not necessarily of the disease. The figures aren't very precise and overall that's not that much higher than a bad flu year. It's not the Black Death, nor even the bad Spanish flu pandemic which was massively worse.

A huge numbers of those deaths were in care homes among the elderly and sick. That was the real disaster as a policy, not shielding those in actual danger and locking us all down and gradually destroying the economy and other problems related to lockdown like missed medical appointments, depression, suicide, alcoholism increase etc.

Lockdown is a ridiculous policy and will kill at least twice as many people in the longterm as the virus. It's time to shut down the lockdown and only shield the truly vulnerable.

I'd rather the roles aren't relaxed tbh, can't we just go one year without seeing extended family.

Were only going to pay for this in January and February when rates will rocket due to over mixing for 5 days at Xmas!

I can only assume you are joking.... I think most will be keeping to their own households not having big celebrations as we are still in the middle of a pandemic and large gatherings mean a bigger spread of infection

It should be possible to express happiness about being able to see family at Christmas without being accused of being smug, privileged or insensitive. No doubt the 'saving Christmas' is being done because they know people would break the rules otherwise. And once you've started breaking the rules you're likely to carry on.

During the course of the pandemic, restrictions have been introduced, tightened, relaxed, tightened again, relaxed again, which is likely to continue happening. It is only natural for people to be happy to be able to do things that have been off limits. It's not compulsory to get together with people - you make your own decisions within what's allowed. Everybody knows we're not all in exactly the same boat and that some people have had terrible losses, but you really can't expect everyone to act permanently terrified and miserable if they don't feel that way.

@SheepandCow

I agree this should have been a crisis dealt with by all parties, but to be fair until recently , at least in parliament starmer has supported all the decisions, although to the media he has changed his mind .

The fact that Wales and Scotland have done their own thing is ridiculous. So confusing.

I lost relatives to covid in care homes but it was very early on so tbh I blame the virus not the government . To hear the poor care workers as the dealt with it all was utterly heartbreaking.

@lazylinguist

That’s exactly what personal responsibility means. No two families have the same circumstances, but if people are not sensible and just go mad then I just hope they don’t blame the government when cases go up.

Is @MiaMarshmallows being sarcastic? The gov and others behind the scenes have killed off so many people due to suicide (loneliness, no money, no job, no house) and cancelled hospital appointments. Also people not getting treatment quick enough as COVID-19 is more important than anything else. They took away our rights (right to healthcare, human touch and freedom of speech) and they give back a tiny bit. Why are people so grateful when the government will take these basic human rights away from us again?

I was for the first lockdown, but too many lives are being ruined up North. For many people there isn’t any financial security and depression is on the rise. How is around £800 a month on furlough going to help people?? No, Boris hasn’t saved Christmas.

People want to get together with loved ones for Christmas WHY?? Do you not see them the other 364 days? I know we've had lockdowns, but what about the months inbetween, & will people honestly abide by the Christmas rules? What about people who have family abroad & can't get to see them due to cancelled flights? Cut Boris some slack, he's Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. He's probably sick of everyone whinging about Christmas- as I & many I know am

@Alexafrost agree. The excess Winter deaths in 2017-18 were slightly higher.

Hmm. I will be proceeding with caution and common sense. Would love to see my family but getting all the people I love together is a bit risky. So quiet one for us...all other religious holidays had to observed in lockdown not sure why are changing the rules just for Christmas!

That's absolutely not true alexafrost

At least 70,000 have died from Covid related causes in the UK. At least 60,000 are suffering from potentially long-term disability with Long Covid. So far.

The 'truly vulnerable' comprise at least 20% of society - including a sizeable proportion of the workforce.

You certainly have contempt for our hardworking NHS staff. The trauma of the first wave led to ICU nurses being sectioned.

The experts - scientists and doctors - have been quite clear about the consequences of no restrictions.

The issues you cite - medical appointments postponed, economic damage, etc - are the consequences of failed containment.

Btw. The elderly and young disabled residents of care homes are as valuable and deserving of life as anybody else.
And, it was not 'most of the deaths'. It was wround 10-20%. Which means the vast majority were outside care homes.

Utterly ridiculous idea to 'save' Christmas! I'LL SEE YOU IN ITU IN JANUARY, Merry Christmas. Its just ONE day you idiots!

@unsure33

I'm sorry for your losses.

I agree. The varied rules across regions and different countries of the Union really is ridiculous, confusing, and divisive.

I'm with you @MiaMarshmallows. Thank F for common sense.

There is only a cause for concern if you are not following the guidelines.

The reason we're in the mess is because of all the anti mask demonstrators up and down the country who literally went out in their hundreds and thousands, caught Covid and spread it all about to other like minded/unsuspecting folk.

Those of us that wear masks, wash our hands and socially distance, guess what? NO COVID.

This country needs a boost economically and psychologically.... my daughter overdosed on Friday because she is so low and isolated. We had no idea it had got so bad and THAT is why we need something to look forward to right now. For some it's becoming more dangerous to be locked up.

If you're shielding/high risk, stay at home. That choice is there.

Otherwise, put your masks on, wash your hands, stay 2 metres apart and go and enjoy some festive cheer and freedom because it wont last and let me be clear: as I said above, it's those that are not following the rules that have continued this situation. If you are doing the right thing you have nothing to fear and if you can't trust your family to do the right thing, don't invite them over.

It's all about doing the right thing and choice: if some of you want to stay locked up until the twelfth of never go for it but leave the rest of us alone.

Also: Covid isn't going anywhere now or in the future so I would get used to that and find a way to live with it because every time we come out of lockdown it will flair up again, just like influenza. It doesn't matter how many lockdowns we have we will keep coming back to this. This was ascertained weeks ago by an Oxford scientist.

im not all for one day essentially and we'll be locked down for jan

my birthday

If you're shielding/high risk, stay at home. That choice is there.

No it's not if you have a school aged kid. Or you have to go to work.