What is Christmas going to look like?

[confusedlots]

I know it's an unknown, but just interested to hear what people think is going to happen over Christmas. I have a feeling they're gearing us up for more restrictions, maybe a limit on the number of people you can visit again like last year. I would just rather know now, it unsettles me when I can't really plan and things change last minute.

I really think it'll be fine.
Only going on what I have read so far.

I don't think anyone will pay attention to any restrictions this year. One of my colleagues has been told this will be her mums last Christmas so she's planning a family gathering regardless.
We obeyed the restrictions last year but people have had enough and surely even our incompetent government will realise that. I do have a sense of dread regarding lockdown at Christmas though.

No one will listen if they do. I know people who washed their groceries and quarantined their post and even they have said they won’t follow anymore lockdowns.

I think the forewarning was "we don't know if we can take the public goodwill into more restrictions "
so i think the masks is to test public mood and if that is accepted more restrictions to follow and a New Year lockdown

I have no idea.
If the new variant turns out to be more transmissible and virulent, then restrictions would be needed and I would definitely comply to protect my family. If it turns out to be less virulent, then I assume things will continue as planned.

Last year, my good friend had Christmas with her parents and sibling and their families. Unfortunately one of them had covid, but didn't yet know it. A number of them became ill within days and the parents were hospitalised. Unfortunately her dad died soon after 😞. They are now facing a rather sad Christmas this year.

I think the restrictions will be focussed more around international travel, which is what they have started to implement again. So a lot of people’s Christmas will be effected like last year, I imagine people are already wondering whether to alter travel plans. I understand why people feel it’s never ending 😔

Only some kind of full lockdown would make people comply with anything.
That seems unlikely to happen, so I doubt that much will change ( apart from masks etc)

Saj said it'll be fine. As of today.
.. depends how much you trust the government or what you read and so on.
Who knows?

Unless people are scared by the death rate/severe illness rate, people are going to visit and mix regardless of what any guidance/ rules say.

I honestly don't know. Even a full lockdown would not affect my plans anyway (will stay with my parents for xmas), but the whole not knowing what might happen is tough for anyone having people visit from abroad.
Hell, the uncertainty is tough for everyone.

People just need to act responsibly, cases rise and fall and affect areas differently but if we acted more responsibly that will go a long way. I'm not going all out this Christmas anyway because cases where I am are still high and that's without this new variant thrown in. I'm not scared of getting covid I just don't want to be responsible for passing it on so I've been testing regularly and wearing my mask when in crowed places. If further restrictions came in I'd comply.

I think people will be reluctant to follow restrictions on who they can see in private homes if schools have been open/retail open/restaurants, theatres etc. It just seems really unfair.

Hopefully it won't come to that though. I am planning for a "normal" Christmas but will follow any and all restrictions as I have no choice due to working in legal profession and wanting to keep my job!

I don't give a shit if they lockdown. This could be my dad's last Christmas. My son will only enjoy the magic of Christmas for so long and as an only child spending it with wider family makes it special.

I will be seeing my parents regardless. We have followed every rule, got 2 jabs, got a booster so govt can bollocks.

(I actually don't think lockdown will happen anyway tbh. Maybe after christmas)

Although I'm not sure lockdown will happen thinking about it. Nearly killed the economy last time and I don't think they'll risk it again. There is no more furlough money and people can't live on air so a lockdown can't really happen.

Why would the government be gearing up for more restrictions though? They won't know the effects of the new varient for a little while yet so it's uncertain at this point. I'm hoping that even if this new varient spreads more easily, it really is much milder.

Completely selfish I know but I would love a mini lockdown over Christmas.

I was frontline NHS last year and my kids spent it with other family members because I worked from the 22nd to the 27th and it was safer. This year I am back office and for the first time in almost 20 years I have it all off so would love just to hide in my small family bubble and lock the world out without being made to feel bad.

I suspect the cabinet will try to tell us not to see our family, but they will all see their own families and lie about breaking any rules afterwards.

Probably the same as always, for us, whatever happens.

It is after Christmas that is the real worry I think, because all the Christmas mixing will drive cases very high?

@EbonanzaScrooge

Completely selfish I know but I would love a mini lockdown over Christmas.

I was frontline NHS last year and my kids spent it with other family members because I worked from the 22nd to the 27th and it was safer. This year I am back office and for the first time in almost 20 years I have it all off so would love just to hide in my small family bubble and lock the world out without being made to feel bad.

You are allowed a quiet Christmas, it is what we do every year!!

I don't think for one second they'll put restrictions in place again.

But, I don't really care if they do. I will still be seeing family.

@EbonanzaScrooge

Completely selfish I know but I would love a mini lockdown over Christmas.

I was frontline NHS last year and my kids spent it with other family members because I worked from the 22nd to the 27th and it was safer. This year I am back office and for the first time in almost 20 years I have it all off so would love just to hide in my small family bubble and lock the world out without being made to feel bad.

Just have your own lockdown. Tell them you need this year with your family and don't entertain guilty feelings. I'd like to see my mum as her health has declined this year. I don't know where she'll be next Christmas

Things would have to be really very bad for them to impose restrictions on household mixing again over Christmas.

I think it’s more likely that we’ll have mandatory mask wearing in more settings, social distancing encouraged, reintroduction of limits on large events - that kind of thing.

But if the vaccines remain effective against the new variant or it only causes mild illness, hopefully we’ll avoid that.

I think it primarily comes down to how well the current vaccines help us.

They won't introduce lockdown over Christmas. But many many people will have covid at Christmas and will be isolating/ill. It's the latter I'm dreading as I tend to be quite unlucky. I feel on tenterhooks just waiting to have to cancel our 4 weeks of lovely plans and activities for the kids leading up to Christmas...

I lost my grandmother to Covid last year and had 2 weeks when we didn’t know if my parents were going to survive the night after multiple complications of Covid.

We were really looking forward to a nice Christmas get together this (we have not met in since all this mess started as we are all based in different countries), but fuck Christmas, I honestly do prefer to be alone at Christmas than going through the same ordeal again.

I am not risking my parents or inlaws for the sake of a Christmas dinner.

If they lock us down I am fine with it.