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?

As it happens Mum doesn't want to join, we will see her in a park or such, just not inside.

DP's gran is ninety and she wants to see her daughters, grand daughters and great grand daughter. It's her choice at the end of the day and nothing to do with anybody else

You do you. Let everyone else decide for themselves.

Yeah, unfortunately that approach doesn't really work in a pandemic. The decisions that all of us take will affect others, whether we like it or not.

www.bbc.com/news/amp/education-55057125

The 0.2% of cases that I'm misapplying. Of course you'll tell me the BBC are lying.

But it won't be easier for everyone to cope with tougher restrictions in January than December though by any stretch of the imagination.

[quote echt]Why am I not surprised:

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/25/scientists-ask-to-see-evidence-behind-relaxing-uks-christmas-covid-rules[/quote]
There isn't any science - I don't think Johnson even tried to pretend there is this time, did he?

People from different households mixing inside for protracted periods of time, having mixed with different people before and again afterwards, is exactly how the virus spreads.

There's absolutely no science behind it at all

Do you think even if as expected the majority of people stay at home that we won't continue to be locked down till March regardless

Of course. It's PR from the useless government. The country is fucked anyway - it was ALWAYS going to be a shit few months after Christmas. I think some people on here think the lockdown will magically lift in January if we don't mix at Christmas.

Christmas is one of the few times of the year when most of my family (children) are off at the same time. Since they are off, it’s the only chance they have to travel to see my dad (they live far away).

Are people actually suggesting we shouldn’t visit my dying father? That’s so heartless.

@Krampusnacht - actually I was eating dinner and then went to sleep. I am dutifully reading through the thread at the moment and will comment when I get to the end of it!

@Knickerthief1

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/education-55057125

The 0.2% of cases that I'm misapplying. Of course you'll tell me the BBC are lying.

It says 0.2% of confirmed cases. School age children are much less likely to have a test as they are much less likely to show vivid symptoms.

Antibody tests show children have contracted covid in much higher numbers.

The number has been misapplied. No one is lying, except in the 'lies, damn lies and statistics' meaning. The BBC is just repeating the govt statement. The govt are using statistics.

Laundrybasketseverywhere no, I don't think anyone is saying that you shouldn't visit your dying father.

I think people are saying that families moving about and getting together over Xmas will spread the virus and lead to further cases, restrictions, job losses etc in the New Year.

I think the decision made by the government to relax the rules for 5 days over the Xmas period was because they know people will do as they please anyway, as is depicted in many of the posts on this thread.
The virus won’t be taking time off for Xmas, it just means we will most likely all move up a tier in January because of the extra spread over those 5 days.

southeasedweller I don't think the lock down will magically lift in the NY if people don't mix over Xmas, although I do feel very concerned about people in sectors like education, health and transport being even more exposed to the virus when rates increase.

I haven’t read all of the replies but everyone circumstances are different. For some people this might be the last Christmas they spend together for various reasons and I can understand why they wouldst want to give that up.It’s not an easy decision for many And mental health is very important too

Yes. If anyone doesn't mind answering, will people who are planning to spend Xmas with elderly relatives etc be self-isolating for 14 days beforehand or getting a CV19 test?

If anyone doesn't mind answering, will people who are planning to spend Xmas with elderly relatives etc be self-isolating for 14 days beforehand or getting a CV19 test?

No, we won’t.

We’ll be careful though, no meet-ups with anyone indoors, we’re wfh etc.

However my kids will be in school/nursery until the
18th.

We’ve discussed the risk with my parents and they are okay with that.

I don’t think we should be taking testing away from those who have symptoms and need them.

@christinarossetti19

Yes. If anyone doesn't mind answering, will people who are planning to spend Xmas with elderly relatives etc be self-isolating for 14 days beforehand or getting a CV19 test?

Yes. Me and my dd and ds are half way through two weeks of self isolating so that we can see my dad.

Dd came home early from uni to do it we had to get their ok. They initially refused.

And if we could get a test we would, but we have no symptoms and he’s had COVID anyway.

christinarossetti19 What do you consider to be “elderly”?

Because their older relatives want to see them?

This ^^

I don't particularly care so long as I have my DH and DC with me and we have a nice day however GP's are putting pressure on us to see them on Christmas Day with extended family. It is a really big thing to them to "have us ALL together on Christmas day". Oh, and that by the way includes me cooking for all of them.

I'm super pissed off and my lack of assertiveness over this is a whole other thread. Please Santa bring me some backbone for Christmas.

I'm super pissed off and my lack of assertiveness over this is a whole other thread. Please Santa bring me some backbone for Christmas.

If you can't be arsed with the cooking then do something different, or get them to bring the food with them.

I have a DH problem, not a guest problem.

I will get them to bring things and I am going to burn everything.

We won't be mixing. I think it's selfish and dangerous.

Had a family discussion and my elderly nan was intending on spending the day alone because she didn't feel safe mixing with the children because they only break up from school on the 18th. That decided it for me! She already bubbles with my mum so she can spend the day with her and we will spend the day just the four of us. Followed by a big group family FaceTime.

It says 0.2% of confirmed cases. School age children are much less likely to have a test as they are much less likely to show vivid symptoms.

Antibody tests show children have contracted covid in much higher numbers.

The number has been misapplied. No one is lying, except in the 'lies, damn lies and statistics' meaning. The BBC is just repeating the govt statement. The govt are using statistics.

So in that case the majority of families have already had Covid in their homes since September so will still have some immunity and won't be spreading it to vulnerable family at Christmas. Whichever way you choose to read it is a positive for Christmas.

*Why can't people see that it's stupid to mix at Xmas?

*
Erm, maybe because some people are able to exercise a degree of common sense and assess risk themselves?

My adult dcs are in a tier 2 area, as are we. We live 200 miles apart, all wfh and never see anyone other than when we shop for essentials. Do you really think it's stupid for them to get in a car and drive themselves to us for Xmas?

I don't.

The only really 'stupid' part is that they have to travel on a few set days when the roads will be rammed rather than travel a day or two earlier or later either side.