What are the chances of lockdown this Christmas?

[43leftfeet]

I've been away this weekend (UK, but I've been distracted and not following the news).

I see there's been talk of Johnson announcing a "ban on Christmas" possibly, around the 17th - or not, depending on what happens with Omicron - is that about right?

I know we can't know yet what's going to happen, but what are people's feelings?

What do you think the restrictions, if any, are likely to be in England & Wales & in Scotland?

I have to admit, when I heard about the Downing Street party my initial reaction was not anger but relief because I think/ thought that made another lockdown less likely… but we shall see.

@thewhatsit

I have to admit, when I heard about the Downing Street party my initial reaction was not anger but relief because I think/ thought that made another lockdown less likely… but we shall see.

It does feel like a shift

The guidance will be simply to avoid any unnecessary mixing. They may attempt stricter rules around New Year if Omicron is causing mass issues

@canary1

Anyone- and it’s so sad to see- clamouring for school closure has no business on a parenting site. Schools are essential, just as hospitals, police etc. Look at the damage the school closure caused. It redirected damage from those vulnerable to Covid towards another vulnerable group in society, the young. Anyone promoting that should hang their heads in shame.

I couldn't agree more @canary1. The negative impact on our young people has been horrendous. Enough is enough. They matter too.

Leaking that party does feel like a shift in attitude, certainly for England.

Scotland won't want to follow suit, they'll want to be different just because....

@BoredZelda

It's not naive to acknowledge that society and education being shut down is akin to an abuser's charter.

It is naive to think it would factor in to any decision about closing schools, when the number of children being abused who are in school and it is missed, or who are frequently (or permanently) out of school and there are no checks or balances, has never been addressed despite the number of cases like this.

How naive to think otherwise

No, it is realistic. Must be lovely to think that prior to lockdown, children weren’t being abused.

What a condescending twatty post.

Quite how you took it to mean I thought "before lockdown no children were ever abused" I have no idea.

Or did you simply want to sound like a world weary cynical "see life as it is" type?

It has become quite clear - to those who didn't know it would happen from the outset - that ordering vulnerable people including children to stay at home with their abusers, with no possibility of regular contact with people outside the home, has had catastrophic consequences. And that throughout those periods there was a noticeable lack of noise from those who should have been shouting their loudest about what was inevitably going on behind closed doors - charities like Barnado's, the NSPCC and Age Concern

In case you needed it really spelling out again.

@007Stocko

The guidance will be simply to avoid any unnecessary mixing. They may attempt stricter rules around New Year if Omicron is causing mass issues

How does anyone define ‘unnecessary mixing’ though? We had guidance for ‘essential socialising only’ here in Scotland last autumn and it was not the clearest. “Cafes are open for socialising with other households but only if you REALLY NEED to.” Righty then…

It wouldn't surprise me if no attempt is made to define it, in that scenario. Nothing that directly leads to a drop in hospitality bookings, to try and keep calls for more furlough or subsidy as weak as possible.

And that throughout those periods there was a noticeable lack of noise from those who should have been shouting their loudest about what was inevitably going on behind closed doors - charities like Barnado's, the NSPCC and Age Concern

That's been a massive thing during this pandemic Covid, covid, covid nothing else matters.
Children, elderly, cancer patients, nobody else matters.

Poor opposition to lockdowns, people criticising it was too late,

In Scotland secondary kids have been marked up in schoold all day for 18mths. It has to be having MH issues as well as causing skin issues yet nobody I'd speaking out about it.

It's been put up and shut up or you'll kill your Granny.

I wonder why it has taken a year for this party to surface and why now and who has been holding on to the information and why release it now?

@Lockdownbear

And that throughout those periods there was a noticeable lack of noise from those who should have been shouting their loudest about what was inevitably going on behind closed doors - charities like Barnado's, the NSPCC and Age Concern

That's been a massive thing during this pandemic Covid, covid, covid nothing else matters.
Children, elderly, cancer patients, nobody else matters.

Poor opposition to lockdowns, people criticising it was too late,

In Scotland secondary kids have been marked up in schoold all day for 18mths. It has to be having MH issues as well as causing skin issues yet nobody I'd speaking out about it.

It's been put up and shut up or you'll kill your Granny.

I agree with you, Hester and Canary

It’s been really sad to see. And now we are becoming aware of damage, although many knew it would be the case

@Lockdownbear

And that throughout those periods there was a noticeable lack of noise from those who should have been shouting their loudest about what was inevitably going on behind closed doors - charities like Barnado's, the NSPCC and Age Concern

That's been a massive thing during this pandemic Covid, covid, covid nothing else matters.
Children, elderly, cancer patients, nobody else matters.

Poor opposition to lockdowns, people criticising it was too late,

In Scotland secondary kids have been marked up in schoold all day for 18mths. It has to be having MH issues as well as causing skin issues yet nobody I'd speaking out about it.

It's been put up and shut up or you'll kill your Granny.

It has indeed. And the resistance when this is pointed out is quite something.

Please forgive the typos / autocorrects in my last post.
Masked not marked
School not schoold
Is not I'd

Lack of a strong solid grounded Labour Party in the UK is quite worrying. Covid isn't the only issue that's being put on a pedestal above all others and your a nasty bit of work if you try to give a more balanced view

@Unphased

I wonder why it has taken a year for this party to surface and why now and who has been holding on to the information and why release it now?

I imagine it's been sat on for a year, and the government broke their side of the bargain. Whatever that bargain was

And there are those who are saying it's been released purposely now to create more of an anti restriction mood

This thing is so bloody contagious that unless we go housebound for months on end it is a waste of time. I am strongly against any form of lockdown but just saying.

Yes, well I hope all those who support endless lockdowns and are still calling for them. Despite most people having 2, if not 3 vaccines think it was all worth it. We’ll be feeling the consequences of this for decades.

More will come out. More horror stories.

Yet still Covid seems to be the only thing that matters.

A couple of news stories went a bit under radar

Ofsted suggesting that virtually every school pupil is now behind where they should be and ONS released figures showing a huge increase in alcohol related deaths during 2020.

And of course we already know that issues such as domestic abuse got worse during lockdown.

Press conference later today. Plan B?

Do you know what time it is scheduled for @QuentininQuarantino

It is being reported that they are going to implement Plan B - i.e. working from home. I wonder why they might be choosing to do this today. Nothing to do with last night...

@kirinm

It is being reported that they are going to implement Plan B - i.e. working from home. I wonder why they might be choosing to do this today. Nothing to do with last night...

I’ve lost track do they need to vote for this?

Wonder if it’s only wfh

I know so many places who have already switched and cancelled parties already

I think Plan B was wfh and also vaccine passports to get into large events - not sure what counts as a large event though.

Maybe the mask vote covers this too.

No need to vote. It would likely just be guidance.

Press conference later this afternoon regarding new restrictions.

Getting higher!
Omicron seems to be very mild in triple vaccinated and/or prior infection plus double vaccinated. Double vaccination doesn't appear to cut it so get boosted as quickly as possible.
The slow roll out of this in the UK isn't good.

I don't want schools to close as this has caused major ongoing issues within my own family. But if Omicron affects the little children more, parents will by default keep their children at home.