What is a safe Christmas?

[ilkleymoorbartat]

So obviously I'm reassessing our plans give. The governments (or more accurately the scientists) grim warnings about Christmas.

Our original plan was to see my parents (Hugh risk mum) on Christmas Eve for the day. We have 2 primary aged kids so would be extra vigilant about what we do in the next week.

We would then have dh parents to stay for 2 nights from Christmas Eve.

What I don't get is, as a responsible citizen, should we now be cancelling Christmas? Or cancelling one of those Christmas arrangements?

I realise the safest thing would be to cancel everything. But is that what we should do?

I think if all parties are willing and able to take steps in advance to try to ensure safety (no mixing etc) then it might be possible to meet with older relatives. But if not, it's risky, and most of my older relatives are saying they just want to hang on for the vaccine. It's not a normal year is it.

Could you meet your mother outdoors with distancing. The latest office of national statistics survey estimates the infection rate in primary aged children to be 1 in 50 and many children are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Without being able to isolate previously I wouldn’t meet indoors.

To add the incubation period is up to 14 days.

@ethelredonagoodday exactly this. I've had 6 weeks since March when I've been able to sit in people's gardens for a coffee, which I've done 3 times, and that's it. My family have been great, and fortunately able to isolate by pulling kids out of school early etc. We'll be as safe as possible, with half hour journey from one family Christmas day, and 40 minute journey for the other boxing day.

People should be able to make their own choices within guidelines. I'm not paying the price for everyone else going to the pub, rained or shopping centres and coffee shops etc, not for this one day.

The picture has worsened. The hospitals are reaching capacity in many areas. If your loved one contracts the virus the grim picture is that they may not get the care and treatment that will save their life.

Now think. Is it the best thing to mix with them or should I postpone and wait until they are vaccinated? You don't need Boris to make the decision.

I cancelled on Thursday. Huge infection rates here - believed to be the new strain. No car, so it would have been a two-hour train journey, then local transport when I get there. Then 5 days of household mixing. It was just too risky.
But, that's a personal choice, with my personal circumstances. If I lived in tier 1, worked from home and could drive to my destination, I may have continued with my plans. I'm not sure, but may have.
No judgement of anyone's plans. Everyone's individual personal circumstances and risk assessment will be different. Cancelling was the only viable and safe option in my case, for everyone's sake

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-how-to-ventilate-your-home-to-make-it-safer-for-christmas-12166505

Ventilation is key, wash hands on arrival, good hand washing hygiene when cooking, I would out kitchen roll in toilet instead of hand towels, and reduce the amount of time spent together to reduce possible viral load.