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?

Great logic

Isn't it. No need for the silly emoji face.

Emptyorchestra cases in my borough (south Hams) have been pretty much the lowest in the country consistently through the year. This was despite the influx of second home owners during the first lockdown and the tourists during the summer. I’ll be having my mum over from a neighbouring borough (also v low) and visiting my sister in Cornwall 🤷‍♀️. I’ll also be having a test a few days later as I’m off on holiday for a week in the sun. Not a single fuck given at this point tbh.

@EmptyOrchestra

There have been 0 cases in my town for weeks now.

Well that won’t be the case for long, with people coming in from all over the country for Christmas!

I’m with OP. Not just the danger to elderly relatives but to the entire country and economy of all this mixing. I really feel for small businesses who’ve now had to close twice and will doubtless have to do so again.

Those who would otherwise alone should be able to go to another household or have another household come to them - everyone else should stay put if they possibly can. I can’t even imagine what the roads are going to be like.

Danger to the economy? Lol. Think you'll find lockdown has managed that perfectly well already.

I’m amazed that so many people think that this very limited relaxation of restrictions over a very limited time is going to automatically lead to a mass culling a few weeks later.

It must be terrible to live with so much fear.

Leaving aside the personal decision to mix or not mix families and homes for me the problem is that it is a mass event happening at the same time. Meaning the consequences will impact at the same time. The very problem we seek to avoid.

A mass event with mass consequences for the NHS. Second week in January as always will be bleak for the NHS. Just more likely with this virus.

If you do this and get sick, you will not be alone in that queue for the hospital bed or doctor. Expect to be admitted into chaos and own your part in it.

@AlecTrevelyan006

I’m amazed that so many people think that this very limited relaxation of restrictions over a very limited time is going to automatically lead to a mass culling a few weeks later.

It must be terrible to live with so much fear.

It depends where you live. Just because infection rates may be low where you live it doesn’t mean other cities are the same. The hospital where I work has had to open further Covid wards.

Danger to the economy? Lol. Think you'll find lockdown has managed that perfectly well already.

Right, and what do you think will happen come January when all social distancing has gone out of the window for the best part of a week? Do you honestly think there won’t be another one?

@AlecTrevelyan006

I’m amazed that so many people think that this very limited relaxation of restrictions over a very limited time is going to automatically lead to a mass culling a few weeks later.

It must be terrible to live with so much fear.

But isn’t it SAGE scientists and government advisors that have predicted a sharp increase in cases after a relaxation in rules for a few days over Christmas?

Expect to be admitted into chaos and own your part in it

Plenty of people out there have always wanted more funds diverted to the NHS and have voted accordingly. It’s a bit rich demanding they ‘own their part’ for spending time with loved ones.

The utter unpreparedness of the system to deal with the crisis, despite a long and painful initial lockdown to buy time for exactly that, is not the ordinary person’s fault.

@TheKeatingFive

Expect to be admitted into chaos and own your part in it

Plenty of people out there have always wanted more funds diverted to the NHS and have voted accordingly. It’s a bit rich demanding they ‘own their part’ for spending time with loved ones.

The utter unpreparedness of the system to deal with the crisis, despite a long and painful initial lockdown to buy time for exactly that, is not the ordinary person’s fault.

You miss the point.

If you want to spend time with your loved ones in a pandemic knowing we have a stretched and under resourced health system, pick a time other than Christmas. When everyone else is doing it. Otherwise you are making the choice that has the highest risk.

See your loved ones when the consequences for you are the least risky if that is what you must do.

pick a time other than Christmas.

It’s you that’s missing some fairly consequential info.

Personally, due to local lockdown I haven’t been allowed to since the start of September. Lord knows when I’ll be again outside of the Christmas window.

I’ve been not allowed to see my parents for the best part of seven months of the year. You can be damn sure I’ll take my chances when I can.

, pick a time other than Christmas.

It’s the only time of the year my family are usually guaranteed all to get time off together.

This year one won’t make it because they work in a hospital.

Plus if we wait my dad won’t be here.

@TheKeatingFive

pick a time other than Christmas.

It’s you that’s missing some fairly consequential info.

Personally, due to local lockdown I haven’t been allowed to since the start of September. Lord knows when I’ll be again outside of the Christmas window.

I’ve been not allowed to see my parents for the best part of seven months of the year. You can be damn sure I’ll take my chances when I can.

Absolutely. The point is at no other time have we been allowed to. So yes, take this opportunity I will.

When is this other magical time when restrictions will be lifted, universities will be closed and me and my husband can both have time off work?

I’m all ears?

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?

We both WFH, no children, my retired parents will be visiting. Exactly whose lives do you think we'll be endangering by 4 people meeting and having a two household Christmas?

Similar to others, I don't give a fuck about seeing people because it's xmas. However, I've not been allowed to visit my DM since September, and am unlikely to be allowed to do so again until March/April.

I've seen her once since March, due to restrictions and various circumstances.

It's really tricky, and I recognise that it is madness in some ways. If we had been able to visit in October, lived close enough to meet outside, or if my kids were old enough to have a proper conversation on Zoom, I wouldn't even consider it.

But, on balance, we probably will see her for one day. She is retired, we WFH, there have been a tiny number of cases locally to me and none in the school (more local to her, but decreasing now).

Because we don't want a quiet Xmas! Because some GPS are very lonely.
Because some people are more family orientated than others
Because people will do what they want anyway.
Because most of the rules make f. All sense anyway and are a loads of rubbish.

Because most of the rules make f. All sense anyway and are a loads of rubbish
I think you hit the nail in the head here .

My PIL want us to come over, I’m nervous about it for them and will make sure we distance and keep a steady ventilation but still. My DM on the other hand doesn’t want anyone round as she is ECV and we’ll organise some zoom calls for her.

Plenty of people out there have always wanted more funds diverted to the NHS and have voted accordingly. It’s a bit rich demanding they ‘own their part’ for spending time with loved ones

Yep. Ive never voted Tory.

@MagicSummer why can't you just let people live by the rules that have been set? It's none of your business, so as MN says "you do you"!

FFS the sanctimonious MN COVID police are seriously fucking irritating.

My sister is coming. That's it. She lives alone, so we are her social support bubble or whatever it is. She is a HCP and has already had covid, so we figure it's reasonably safe. But yeah, as a pp says you do you, along as it's within the rules.