Are they really going to cancel Christmas?

[fedupfrances]

And if they do, will loads of people just break the rules anyway?

It’s sodding ridiculous - myself and DP have barely left the house last week and won’t be going out this week either, other than walks in our local park. My parents have also been at home pretty much constantly. None of us has Covid 19 and the risk of catching it if we get together at Christmas is practically zero. So fed up with this shite!

We are in the same position @DigitalGhost. Those people just going into tier 3 now or only recently into 2 following lockdown have no idea what it’s been like being so isolated for months. We are having our family Christmas (as per current guidelines) this year. I may rethink if I was in London with soaring rates but for once our position is better up north and I want to take advantage of that as others have for months and months down there.

It's a really valid point - ignoring Christmas and going by the figures, us who have been imprisoned in Tier 3 for months and months (Leicester since March!!), should be finally given a break. People have sacrificed so much this year in these areas. We need a break.

Now it looks like we will suffer again just because focus has shifted SE. Christmas is sensitive, but then as others point out, the virus doesn't know it's Christmas so lockdown the SE and let the rest of us have a break.

@Napqueen1234 I’ve been in those same restrictions and am so fed up too but the Christmas mixing will send us straight into a lockdown after Christmas/January .

That won’t help businesses and those struggling but it it’s ok cos people will get their Christmas, how they want it, no matter what the silly rules say. It’s going to make the tiers and lockdowns last even longer... it’s shortsighted to not see the longer impact!

I don't think America and thanksgiving are a useful comparison.

First, each state has different situations and some states are larger than many European countries.

Second, there are a lot of Trump types who don't believe covid is a thing and won't wear masks

Third, there are a lot of American who literally cannot afford to be sick either because they will lose their job and/or be bankrupt by medical bills. It will mean people passing on infections because they cannot afford to isolate / be sick.

Fourthly, it's a much shorter holiday. While they also only have 2 days as a public holiday. Lack of paid annual leave means that most people will be working up until the day. Schools only close for the long weekend.

While there are some similarities it is a bit apples abs oranges.

Basically, if you don't want to or can't take the risk for form a Christmas bubble, don't. Other people are preparing to form that bubble in a responsible way, as they are entitled to.

No one is mentioning that there is a whole 7 days from end of Christmas bubbles to the start of school. There is no relaxation for NYE so in tier 3 areas there will be no parties or mixing.

@Twizbe exactly but people don't think about that

I bet many in America now wish they hadn’t all celebrated Thanksgiving together. The stats don’t lie.
But it seems we don’t learn from others.

We all live in our own echo chambers

Generally, I agree. However, I deliberately make myself read news from other sources (inc l/r US papers) to try to puncture my particular echo chamber.

So really you are saying that the British public are not able to make their own judgements about their own individual situations

Nope. I've never once mentioned 'the British Public' or pretended to know what it's wants to do or is capable of. I didn't mention other people's families. I very specifically only mentioned my own family and that we're settled in the fact that none of us know more about COVID than the BMJ.

How short people’s memories are

You selectively used half of my quote about Jeremy Hunt. What's your point, and why not use the whole one, which gives a different tone to your point (whatever it is)?

What i don't understand is I live in an area where covid was very low , we had 4 week lockdown and once out our numbers have soared ? We have only been out couple weeks so surely as we were low anyway the lockdown should of put us even lower . Quite a few cases in schools now as well compared to before lockdown when there were just a few

@Twizbe good point on America and differences its why what works i one country doesn't always work in another

@Twizbe actually most of those points can apply here:

plenty of non believers and non mask wearers in the U.K, plenty that don’t socially distance and that aren’t careful or even consider any pandemic restrictions .

The longer holiday means more people here have more time to mix with others for longer and not just sticking to the three bubble

People will still travel to other parts of the U.K.to see family, using public transport as they go.

Plenty of people in the U.K. who can’t afford to isolate or stay off sick too...

Same issues different country!

I so really hope so - why all this fuss about a party for the oldies....

I couldn't bear it. I don't enjoy Christmas usually but I live alone and have barely seen anyone for months, I've had a horrible year with a miscarriage at Easter then a mystery virus which could've been Covid but I tested negative but laid me low for weeks then a bad back for 3 months that's only just feeling better.

Having 5 days out of my house has never been more needed.

I know we're in a serious state and people will die as a result of decisions made in the next few weeks but I really need a break.

I have learned on here that how easy you find it to comply
is relative to how hard you've had it so far. I cant imagine tier 3 since March it must be awful. its about getting the support you/we all need as much as getting the right info to make the best decision.

@fedupfrances I literally just quoted the article you linked. read. it. all. before posting. you really obviously haven't. sorry that's just waste of time at best and irresponsible misinformation if anyone believes you.

As I said before, the article says that supermarkets are the “most common location for Covid exposure in England”. Are you actually disputing that?

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/covid-supermarkets-uk-exposure-nhs-b1748906.html

according to twitter, Boris is against cancelling/changing because a. they would clearly be going back on their word and b. the north would be royally pissed off because basically this would be coming on the back of increased cases in London whereas we've found it really difficult to see family for months.
In the case of B, that's absolutely true.

However a rethink by the devolved nations, particularly Wales looks likely and there will have to be some stronger messaging around it for all.

I'm not sure if this has been suggested so far. However, suggesting that people can get together for Christmas just as figures are rising, that will set a situation up where
-Covid will distract from Brexit and

• the Government can blame the public for their behaviour in sending the figures up.

They can/will say - well, you wanted to have choice about this, we gave you choice, you behaved stupidly, it is all your fault that numbers are now so high.

The numbers will be high anyhow, there is always a lot of respiratory illness end of Jan- end of Feb.

@Frazzled2207

according to twitter, Boris is against cancelling/changing because a. they would clearly be going back on their word and b. the north would be royally pissed off because basically this would be coming on the back of increased cases in London whereas we've found it really difficult to see family for months. In the case of B, that's absolutely true.

However a rethink by the devolved nations, particularly Wales looks likely and there will have to be some stronger messaging around it for all.

Interesting

One issue is direction of travel and people going home from London taking cases out with them.

@timeforanewstart maybe its the new strain of the virus which is more spead-y apparently. we are going up massively in my area too having been super low.

You've got to view this from a bigger picture.
You don't know if you or your DH are asymptomatic (I believe 1 in 3 people are).
If you want to take the risk and possibly pass it onto your parents and potentially kill them, that's up to you and your conscience.
So do you think it's 'shite' now?

@OhDearMuriel oh don’t be so ridiculous. We’ve been at home for the past week and will be for the next, only leaving to get some exercise in the local park. The chances of us catching the virus are slim to none.

Friend just told me Holland has just gone into 5 weeks of lockdown.

[quote timeforanewstart]@Hapixmas sorry forgot the isle of wight [/quote]
No worries, I don't live there. Just bitter 🤣

bitheby I'm really sorry you've had such a tough year

@ChasingRainbows19

Just look what’s happened in America, families travelling and mixing for thanksgiving. They’ve had high daily cases and deaths this last week, it’s not over and the lag will include more. Some of those families will have been safe as could be or so they thought but still caught covid.

Canada have seen it and taken action, It’s a warning about our January/feb. But people will still do what they will do. I couldn’t live with the guilt. I’d rather wait. I’m seeing family short visit outside on the doorstep and having a home meal. It’s one year. I’ve worked throughout in the nhs and haven’t had close contact with family and friends since March..

I plan to see my family and I feel no guilt over living my life.

@mummmy2017 yes but i believe they have some allowances for xmas as others have posted

You selectively used half of my quote about Jeremy Hunt. What's your point, and why not use the whole one, which gives a different tone to your point (whatever it is)?

@TheWichitaWineOne anything that comes before the word “but” in a sentence is generally meaningless anyway. Which is why I didn’t bother quoting that bit.

There are now 870 kids isolating at DS1's school. That's 60-70% of the kids. I think it would be reasonable to take our area into tier3 and reduce the mixing at Xmas.