To think if you think it's a risk to see family at Xmas then don't

[BenidormLife]

I keep seeing so many posts and people saying Boris should change the rules over Christmas.

If you or your family are at risk/vulnerable or you feel you don't want to see family then don't. You don't need Boris to tell you, just use your own common sense.

I won't be seeing family over Christmas because I don't want to risk it but I don't need Boris to tell me. My best friend will be meeting all her family but they have self assessed and that's fine.

How many times? It's not only about the risk to the individuals.

Risk assess for yourself and your lifestyle...it's not hard!

@BenidormLife

Risk assess for yourself and your lifestyle...it's not hard!

And if my "lifestyle" involves being a keyworker providing essential services to all the people who decided their personal risk was low, but will still need my services in the New Year?

I'm also a keyworker so don't play that card

That’s great until people go back to work and children go back to school and have no choice but the interact with others who haven’t been sensible

It's not a card, I'm not expecting any special treatment, it's just fact that whatever the people I serve decide to do over Christmas is going to affect me and, therefore, the other people I serve.

How can you think it's all about assessing your own risk if you're going to be coming into contact with loads of other people through your work? Whatever you choose to do affects them and vice versa.

The risk assessment of individual families is irrelevant. With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission we'll see an increase of cases in the community - which inevitably leads to an increase in hospital admissions, death and further disruption to our lives.

It's not a card to play FFS, not all key workers are low risk for Covid. My husband is high risk and has worked on the wards throughout, he has no choice. Sadly he also doesn't have the choice to protect himself, family and colleagues from the damage this shitstorm is going to cause.

Yes I completely agree. Unfortunately I'm in Wales and we've been told we have to stick to two households now. But many people will already have chosen to isolate in preparation etc or made their own sensible risk assessments. A lot of people I know have now had it as we're in a "hotspot" and thankfully none have had more than a mild cold. The chances of them all getting it again 4 or 5 weeks later, plus the fact that they've now been off school and work ten days prior to meeting, really seems to minimise the risk enough for them to be able to meet.

I agree with you op but when there are family members putting so much pressure on, it’s a lot harder to opt out when it’s ‘allowed’

So many people don't get this. A thread yesterday people constantly spouting about 'assessing your own risk' etc.

It's not about your own personal risk here. You don't get to decide that you wish to take that risk and potentially end up using NHS resources, meaning others potentially miss out on treatments. It's not about YOU.

I completely agree with you OP.

@FourTeaFallOut

The risk assessment of individual families is irrelevant. With asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission we'll see an increase of cases in the community - which inevitably leads to an increase in hospital admissions, death and further disruption to our lives.

Exactly. People need to stop stating they've carried out their own risk assessments ffs. I'm sure the fact everyone has carried these out will be a comfort to people who's treatment ends up getting delayed because hospitals are overrun with COVID patients.

People will make their own choices regardless of what Boris says. Also agree with @Excited101 its hard with pressure from other family members for a big celebration. It seems my DH and DMIL have colluded together to organise Christmas at DMIL house without a thought for my family or what I want. Im pretty upset by it tbh. If I don't go it will cause an atmosphere and I don't want that for the DC but inside im seething

If every other family in my kid's class of 30 decide to have a merry knees up with AT LEAST 2 other families each (and I imagine several will be breaking the rules in addition), then come January my child has to mix with those kids and everything they're carrying back from their jollies with them.

This is in spite of me "risk assessing" and choosing to stay home as a family unit this Christmas.

Same for every medic, shop worker, bus driver etc etc who has to come into contact with everyone after the party season.

How are people still not getting this?! It's a chain thing!! It passes between people. It may pass between you within your family, a risk you're willing to take, it may pass from your auntie, to you, to whoever you see in January who DID NOT WANT TO MIX with your infectious auntie. You and your family members are not the end of the chain!

Yeah that'll work because anyone who meets up with others at Xmas isn't going to come into contact with anyone else for two weeks after.

"Risk assessment" is meaningless here.

Agree OP. People honestly expect the government to come and wipe their arses for them.

There isn't any way the government could win on this. Anyone who thinks otherwise, what exactly should they be doing to protect us from Covid, poor/ suicidal mental health and economic catastrophe this Christmas?

But if Boris didn't put a guideline of say 3 households, there would be people perhaps seeing 10 households etc.
The ones, like myself, who are doing as much as I can to prevent the covid spread or risk, will not see anyone, his rules won't change that.

Agree op

@Chocolate4me

But if Boris didn't put a guideline of say 3 households, there would be people perhaps seeing 10 households etc. The ones, like myself, who are doing as much as I can to prevent the covid spread or risk, will not see anyone, his rules won't change that.

If people are stupid enough to see 10 households I doubt they're the type of people who will stick to this 3 househould rule anyway.

I'm happy with my plans. I don't feel they are any more risky than my children having been in school for weeks and me in work, plus the usual to'ing and fro'ing.

@Littlemilkjug

If every other family in my kid's class of 30 decide to have a merry knees up with AT LEAST 2 other families each (and I imagine several will be breaking the rules in addition), then come January my child has to mix with those kids and everything they're carrying back from their jollies with them.

This is in spite of me "risk assessing" and choosing to stay home as a family unit this Christmas.

Same for every medic, shop worker, bus driver etc etc who has to come into contact with everyone after the party season.

How are people still not getting this?! It's a chain thing!! It passes between people. It may pass between you within your family, a risk you're willing to take, it may pass from your auntie, to you, to whoever you see in January who DID NOT WANT TO MIX with your infectious auntie. You and your family members are not the end of the chain!

That's what viruses do. You sound surprised? We've locked down and had restrictions for the best part of a year and will go back into these restrictions after the Christmas respite. That's all it is, a short respite for people to see some family before it all goes back to shit again.

Feeling happy and ok about your plans provides excellent protection against the virus, it's true.

I have a college aged child and a university aged child (who has had covid already)...we will not be mixing with elderly relatives this Christmas, it's just too risky (mixing age groups)

It's going to be a sad Christmas for us all but their health is just too precious to us to risk.

We will make up for it next Christmas and really push the boat out.