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?

@Unphased

I have heard from a good source that the government are making plans for a lockdown in the New Year, Which you could say is right as they should prepare for all eventualities, wether it’s implemented depends on certain data in the next few weeks

Good source course you have . First of all this government don’t know what they’re doing tomorrow never mind next month . Second of all even if this was true based on what? rising cases what they can see a month into the future can they ? amazing .

There will be no more lockdowns unless any new variant makes vaccinated people seriously unwell.

I agree the government have no idea if there is going to be a lockdown or not. They don't -plan like that
They do nothing until every is shouting, FFS introduce more restrictions. Nothing will happen unless that happens.

😂😂

No way will people comply. Doesn’t matter what they say!

Unless they bring back furlough there will be no more lockdowns. Restrictions, maybe, but I can't see us returning to March 2020 or January 2021.

See also "on its/their knees" and "ripping through".

I thought ‘ripping through’ had been replaced with ‘riddled with’ now, re schools?

Border controls are still supposed to be ‘stringent’ though. And test-trace-isolate should be ‘robust’. And anything I don’t mind doing that other people don’t like is a ‘sensible light-touch mitigation’.

gettingolderandgrumpy
It’s up to you if you believe it, this person is in the right job, position to know the facts, told me a week before the 1st lockdown happened, they’re planning for it, doesn’t mean it will happen, They have no reason to lie to me or me to you

If this new variant does affect under five-year-olds more, then they will lockdown. Because thousands of toddlers and babies in hospital with covid is not something the public will accept.

@Unphased

gettingolderandgrumpy It’s up to you if you believe it, this person is in the right job, position to know the facts, told me a week before the 1st lockdown happened, they’re planning for it, doesn’t mean it will happen, They have no reason to lie to me or me to you

Even if Boris Johnson personally told you I wouldn’t believe so no I don’t , I’m not saying it won’t happen just that it too early to know . But if you do do know bojo please can you ask him to arrange lockdown after the 17th January as I’ve a couple of important events early Jan .

The public will also be wary of isolating young children too again, it brings its own harms.

No way will people comply. Doesn’t matter what they say!

I think what you mean to say is no way will people comply for the benefit of others anymore.

They’ll start complying if they think it’s for their own benefit though, ie depending on what happens to levels of mortality and serious illness.

Worry not we are in safe hands....

I agree with @julieca, if the worst comes to pass and it's true it is making little ones more poorly and more likely to need hospital treatment, lockdown will be inevitable.

From one fairly well-connected it is 0% 😉

@julieca

If this new variant does affect under five-year-olds more, then they will lockdown. Because thousands of toddlers and babies in hospital with covid is not something the public will accept.

Very true and quite right too.

@MumbleCrumbs

I agree with *@julieca*, if the worst comes to pass and it's true it is making little ones more poorly and more likely to need hospital treatment, lockdown will be inevitable.

I really don’t think so

Everyone knows by now what harm can be done.

It will depend on relative risk and who for

And even then how long would you lockdown and isolate a young child?

gettingolderandgrumpy
Just make alternative plans or don’t get to upset if happens before then,

@Unphased

I have heard from a good source that the government are making plans for a lockdown in the New Year, Which you could say is right as they should prepare for all eventualities, wether it’s implemented depends on certain data in the next few weeks

Oh here we go again....

My mate Kev is in the Army and is preparing to deploy in Basingstoke. A friend who is very senior in the NHS says bodies are piling high. Someone I know in the Council says all leave has been cancelled.

ALL TOTAL BOLLOCKS.

Until there is a treatment or vaccine for under fives?

I am not saying this will happen. But whether there is a lockdown or not will depend on what this new variant does to people.

**I really don’t think so

Everyone knows by now what harm can be done.

It will depend on relative risk and who for

And even then how long would you lockdown and isolate a young child**

You don’t think what? You don’t think that would have a full blown lockdown if it really affected children?

Of course they would. They had months of lockdowns for older adults so they absolutely would do it if it helps stop the spread to children. Absolutely the right thing to do!!

@MarshaBradyo

@Starcup

**I really don’t think so

Everyone knows by now what harm can be done.

It will depend on relative risk and who for

And even then how long would you lockdown and isolate a young child**

You don’t think what? You don’t think that would have a full blown lockdown if it really affected children?

Of course they would. They had months of lockdowns for older adults so they absolutely would do it if it helps stop the spread to children. Absolutely the right thing to do!!

No I don’t think we would react that way - I think the harms of isolating children for that long are too damaging.

Of course it depends on relative risk but I feel better that Chris Whitty acknowledges harm of lockdown, especially schools.

I am not even talking about what is the right thing to do or not.
But if thousands of babies and toddlers were in hospital with covid, then most parents and grandparents in the country of young children would be demanding action to protect them.

I don't think there would be a full lockdown for children, people think so on here because the majority of people probably have young children so it does strike home.

A lockdown before Christmas would be wasted as most would carry on anyway. And they'd be hated.

So makes sense to do it after (if at all, and they'd avoid it at all costs) as what's the sell / exit plan to get people to comply?