Does anyone think there could yet be a U turn over Christmas?

[HallFloor]

At least in some areas.

It seems madness to me, after having to admit things are out of control in Schools (in London and SE, if not elsewhere) to positively encourage multi generational gatherings over Christmas.

I also wonder how many people plan to have their 3 household bubble and how many will decided it's too big a risk. My parents have said they're having Christmas on their own and whilst elderly, they have no additional risk factors and are not normally anxious.

Schools here are already gearing up for carnage in the New Year. We are currently debating going back on a remote timetable.

We will not be moving outside our existing bubble.
Already cancelled out normal plans to see extended family- although allowed, we don;t want to take the risk.

Yep. They’ll use the upward swing in figures to justify it.

I don’t think they’ll change the rules because I think they are scared of how weak the govt would look if most people just ignore them over Xmas.

I really hope not. But then I don’t have schoil children. It would probably be sensible to say everyone with school children shouldn’t see other households.

No, I think the current plans will remain in place.

I don't believe there is any "positive encouragement" to meet with family and friends. We have just been told we won't be arrested or fined for doing so. As with most things involving risk everyone is free to make their own choice.

I do as of tonight. But I think then there will be such an uproar. I think the lockdown should've started a week later and ended at least a week later.

We won’t be seeing my parents.
We only see DH’s parents who are already our childcare bubble

I wouldn't have thought so with only 2 weeks to go. But I think, sensibly, many families are staying home alone this year.

I hope very much that they do reverse the decision - it is madness. I think they have eased the precautions because they do not think people will adhere to them and there is no way of policing that. But the truth is that people will die because of it.

I know of 3 families who are getting together at Christmas and there will be 14 people in the house. How utterly mad is that? Perfect conditions for spreading the virus.

I don't think there will be a U-turn....but there should be.

@FriedPeach

No- they would simply be ignored. The vast majority have had enough now and want their lives back (while of course taking sensible precautions such as staying away from the extremely vulnerable).

I'm someone who thought I was doing everything right. I haven't broken any rules, been careful about handwashing, keeping a distance, masks etc and I've had a positve test this week. No idea where I picked it up.

I'm not sure what sensible precautions are anymore.

I hope it's not going to be a repeat of Thanksgiving in the US.

I don't know anyone that isn't meeting family for Christmas I don't think!

If the rules change then that would change drastically. I'd like to know though ASAP either way

@GADDay

I hope it's not going to be a repeat of Thanksgiving in the US.

Presumably that what's behind the shocking stats they're reporting in US atm?

No. I will be going to the one other household i intend to go to.

If there is a U turn there also has to be a U turn on Grant Shapps allowing "high value" individuals not having to quarantine when they come back from abroad , Because im sure you didnt mean just for the "plebs" OP.

Ive never voted Tory.
I havent been abroad since 1986

Ive done all they have asked and not broken the rules. So my conscience is clear.
But i wont give up my family Christmas There will be 5 of us at the most. And its a half hour WALK to the other household so im not leaving my home town.

Im not asking for the moon on a fucking stick.

And we were sold the November lockdown on the basis that it would enable families to see each other at Christmas. Im fucking sick of being lied to and gaslighted

Having been in a school for the last three months I’m finding it very hard to stomach the idea that spending time with just 2 other households could possibly be considered more dangerous than what I’ve just lived through.

I don't think there will be any changes, because they know people will just break e restrictions and see family anyway. Indeed, that's why the Christmas bubble was announced - they knew people would just celebrate with family anyway, and then once they'd broken the rules once they'd continue to do so. The Christmas bubble gives enough flexibility for people to see some family if they want to, but still puts at least some constraints on the mixing.

I do think January is going to be grim

@AppleKatie

Having been in a school for the last three months I’m finding it very hard to stomach the idea that spending time with just 2 other households could possibly be considered more dangerous than what I’ve just lived through.

Isn't that why it's dangerous? (I'm in school too) For every child/adult currently in school we'll be potentially exposing 2 other households who thus far have been protected from it.

I don’t think they will change the rules now. They have stated the risks.... and will state them even louder probably in the next 2 weeks. If you have children and can’t heed the warnings re socialising...... what more can be done. There will forever be this ‘it won’t be us’ belief by some. I would predict xmas will fall into two groups. Group 1, who don’t socialise at all (why risk it now), and group 2, who do what they like. Let’s hope group 1s actions outweigh group 2s. (Or maybe the schools being shut for 2 weeks will outweigh all the xmas socialising!!!)

I shall still be seeing who i plan to see so let them try.

The thing to bear in mind is that the rules are not designed to keep all of us as individuals safe. The guidelines laid out by the government are a compromise between infection prevention and keeping normal life going, designed to prevent just enough infections to keep society and the NHS safe. If most people follow them, infections should stay at a manageable level, but they won't prevent all infections because they'd have to be much stricter for that (probably including things like never meeting people from other households indoors, staying even further apart outdoors, wearing masks all the time, for a start).

HallFloor you probably were doing everything right. It's just that you were one of the unlucky people who got covid anyway. Doing everything right will still have reduced the chances of you passing it on though, so it was still worth doing, and if you hadn't you might also have had a much higher viral load and ended up more ill.

Lots of people will do what they want regardless. The sensible ones will be staying home and having a quiet Christmas.

Yes thanksgiving, rather like the poor Italians In march, is a huge red warning light to us.

Thankfully most people here, seem to be very sensible and either will see relatives with measures in place or won't.

I just feel every stop needs to be pulled out to get us out of winter and yet, some schools are insisting on a strict adherence to uniform policy, inspite of it being freezing. Masks are not allowed in classes, the dofe has bizzare advice and rules which are mainly impossible to follow or enforce or ridiculous too.

Natural breaks in the term have been ignored eg an extra week at October?
Weeks either side of 🎄, Feb half term... All ignored.