Why can't people see that it is stupid to mix at Christmas?

[MagicSummer]

I know that the Government had to relax the rules for the 5-day period because so many people would have broken them anyway, but can people not see that mixing families, travelling and close contact is going to cause another spike in the New Year? It makes me so cross - why can't people just knuckle down and have a quiet Christmas this year without endangering the lives of their older relatives?

SheepandCow You with your dramatic postings.

Because there's more to life than COVID?

@Nicknacky

cantkeepawayforever that’s entirely your choice but having lost a parent then not a chance will I have only seen my dad in 9 months. And I’m in a high risk occupation too.

I see them every week on Zoom, I speak to them at least another once a week. I cannot see them without staying - they live too far away (3-4 hours each way) - and they are in a part of the UK I am currently not allowed into, and they are not allowed out of. Their chances of me being there for me to see them once they have been vaccinated is greater if I stay away. So I do. Do I like it? No. Would I like to have a happy family gathering in December? Of course. Would it be unforgivably stupid to do so? Also of course.

Goodness! Perhaps we have an explanation for the continued high number of cases (and deaths). Every single teacher and HCP are ignoring containment measures... Unless it's just where Sandyplankton and Nicknacky live?

Because my baby is 9 months old and has met my dad and my brother once in his entire life.

Because my baby has never been left with anyone other than me and my husband even for 2 minutes whilst I have a wee/ shower/ cook in his entire life, yet in a couple of months will be in nursery all day with other babies and adults. He has no idea how to interact with other babies and is wary of other adults. Maybe spending a few days with family will help him be comfortable around others?

Because I have not been allowed any support from family/ friends whatsoever for 9 months because I live with my husband and don’t need childcare whilst on maternity (happy this is changing as of next week with the under 1s bubble).

Because for 7 out of the 8 months of his life we have only been allowed to see people outside and from a distance.

Because out of the 8 people who will be in our Christmas bubble none of us have health conditions and only one is over 60. Only 2 of us work outside the house and we all online shop.

Because our risk to each other is low. We will ventilate everywhere, pretty much maintain some kind of distance between the adults and follow strict hygiene control.

It’s been a shitty year. The first year of my baby’s life has been a shitty year. One we will never get back. So yes whilst there will be many other Christmas’ this one, his first, our first with him we will never get back. We’ve missed enough firsts this year, I refuse to miss anymore. So OP you carry on being ‘extremely cross’ about us stupid folk and I’ll carryon being absolutely fuming about the way families and children have been treated throughout all this. Each to their own and all that!

@SheepandCow

Goodness! Perhaps we have an explanation for the continued high number of cases (and deaths). Every single teacher and HCP are ignoring containment measures... Unless it's just where Sandyplankton and Nicknacky live?

I think it must be localised to their area. Completely at odds with my daily experience, tbh.

@Dongdingdong

The Covid mafia on this thread are welcome to inflict a shit Christmas on themselves. The rest of us meanwhile will be having a fabulous time with our families!

Hear hear. Reading this thread you would think COVID had a 100% death rate. And before anyone says it....50,000 people in the UK have not died DUE TO COVID.

@Nicknacky

SheepandCow You with your dramatic postings.

A pandemic (and it's consequences) is rather dramatic, yes.

Mass deaths and economic devastation. Dramatic indeed.

Every single teacher and HCP are ignoring containment measures

Well I highly doubt that, otherwise there would have been more bubble closures, would there not.

My son had a cold related cough a few weeks back. I knew it wasn't covid. But I did exactly what I was supposed to do. I isolated him, I isolated myself, I got him tested.

I am seeing my mother at Christmas.

Sheepandacow How can I speak for every single teacher or healthcare worker?

And they are doing nothing wrong if they chose to see family just like the rest of us. But let’s not pretend that teachers or nhs staff won’t be seeing family.

All I can tell you is I've seen the same teachers in the playground every day since my son started school in September. So either they're not isolating when they should be or his particular school really isn't on its bare bones.

cantkeepaway Oh sorry, I don’t realise you had spoken to every single teacher and nhs worker in your area to ask their plans for Christmas.

Don’t be so ridiculous.

@Pootle40

Because there's more to life than COVID?

I never understand these type of remarks. Yes there is more to life than covid, for everyone. But thinking that doesn't make it less likely someone will catch it.

Nicknacky,

I have not said I do. But as I work in a school, in an area with lots of closely connected schools whose staff know each other, I do know quite a lot of teachers - and teachers without their 'game face' one, when we admit to one another how scared we are, how many cases there really are, the efforts we go to to keep our own loved ones safe, in a way that we would never admit to parents or the general public.

Because some people are utterly, utterly selfish.

@Happymum12345

Because some people are utterly, utterly selfish.

That. Succinct and completely to the point. Selfish and willing to attack others to justify doing exactly what they want to do, without consideration for others.

cantkeepaway Good for you. I know people where I work but I wouldn’t dream of speaking for them all.

My sister in law is teacher. Probably one of the worst covid breakers I know so they aren’t all in fear, and she has asthma.

But @BefuddledPerson some people have made their peace with it and want to live their lives. It's as simple as that. Doesn't matter whether you like it or dislike it - we are adults living in a supposed free society. Maybe some people don't care if they catch it? Maybe they're happy with the risk? Such a pointless question originally by the OP.

Each to their own. No judgement here for those seeing family as long as they follow the rules. We’re not going to as our parents are elderly and vulnerable.

My sister in law is teacher. Probably one of the worst covid breakers I know so they aren’t all in fear, and she has asthma.

So you have drawn the conclusion that all teachers are just like your SiL?

That. Succinct and completely to the point. Selfish and willing to attack others to justify doing exactly what they want to do, without consideration for others.

So I'm selfish for seeing my mother am I, when I will isolate myself for two weeks beforehand and the alternative is her possibly having a psychotic break. Yes? That's selfish, is it?

so you have drawn the conclusion that all teachers are just like your SiL?

No different to you having drawn the conclusion that all teachers feel as you do.

OP makes goady thread and then barely comments. Hmm.

You're right @Pootle40
It's not 50,000. The estimated figure so far is at least 70,000.

And then there's the many thousands with disabling Long Covid. Deny it's existence or the seriousness all you like. The NHS doesn't spend on setting up treatment clinics UK-wide for nothing.

And to think, we have vaccines just around the corner. And people want to Spread Covid for Christmas.

Ugh. Can't be doing with any more Trumpism tonight.

cantkeepaway not in the slightest but haven’t you done that by implying they are all in fear and won’t be doing Christmas?

Oh by the way, I’m in tier 4. Schools are doing fine here, generally speaking.