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Original poster

There's going to be a lot of people isolating over Christmas isn't there?

58 replies

yellowgreysocks · 07/12/2021 19:53

Obviously I'm praying I'm not one of them.

We were talking about this at work today. From 15th December, every positive case reported on the news each day will be isolating for Christmas. Plus all their dependants who are affected plus anyone coming into contact with omicron will have to isolate too.

That's a hell of a lot of people unable to have family over / visit etc. Or maybe people are happy with it? (Illness aside obviously) Bit like last years enforced lockdown Christmas that was enjoyed by many. For me, I'd be gutted with house arrest this year, as would my wider family.

No real point to this it was just a bit of a 'oh blimey' moment earlier.

OP posts:
sarah246 · 07/12/2021 20:12

@Watapalava

Hardly anyone will have to isolate

66 million people

100 a day plus contacts

That’s if they isolate

If I was contacted as contact (unlikely as I’ve blocked number) I still wouldn’t isolate

I don’t know many who would tbh

What is your 100?

There were almost 41,000 cases today. X10 for the 10 day run up to christmas thats 410,000 people isolating on the 25th - plus unvaccinated contacts, and any contacts of omicron.

Incognito22333 · 07/12/2021 20:13

People with symptoms will just stop testing. A few unlucky ones will be Omicron contacts- of those not everyone will isolate. People know there is no way of enforcing it. Many people test to have time off work/work from home. So I think we will have a large spike in January when everyone starts testing again.

minipie · 07/12/2021 20:14

If I was contacted as contact (unlikely as I’ve blocked number) I still wouldn’t isolate
I don’t know many who would tbh

What if you were planning to see elderly relatives- like loads of people do at Christmas? Would you really just think fuck it, I may have covid but they can take their chances?

Paddingtonthebear · 07/12/2021 20:16

The numbers of omicron aren’t that high , because they are not accurate yet. They won’t know true numbers until every positive covid test is tested for the new variant and that’s not happening at the moment.

glitterelf · 07/12/2021 20:17

Can people really not see the knock on effect regardless of variant ? Say I've got family coming over for Christmas dinner but my DH tests positive that will be two families disrupted due to covid. Same as if we were going to a family members and DH tested positive we would be staying home. Op I totally get you unfortunately some people either cannot see the bigger picture or are pretty damn selfish with a fuck it attitude.

Wizzbangfizz · 07/12/2021 20:21

I and the majority i know turned off the app a long time ago so the likelihood of being pinged is also low.

Lolacat1234 · 07/12/2021 20:23

I get what you mean OP - my sons class are dropping like flies with it this week (hardly any with actual symptoms!) and I don't imagine it will stop next week. If he comes home with it that's us locked down over Xmas and my mum on her own for Xmas day. Feel like pulling him out of school completely until end of term now!

Original poster
yellowgreysocks · 07/12/2021 20:23

@Paddingtonthebear

The numbers of omicron aren’t that high , because they are not accurate yet. They won’t know true numbers until every positive covid test is tested for the new variant and that’s not happening at the moment.
Did nobody read that I said positive cases PLUS omicron contacts.

My thread wasn't about omicron cases only - obviously the numbers are small for that.

My point was that there are an awful lot of people - delta / omicron / close contacts / families units / wider families expecting you etc from 15th December onwards that will have plans scuppered for Xmas - and that's really sad.

OP posts:
userxx · 07/12/2021 20:23

@minipie I think a lot of elderly people are thinking fuck it, I'll take my chances!

Paddingtonthebear · 07/12/2021 20:24

More and more people will have the variant soon and not even know about it unless they are one of the few picked, so no chance their close contacts will self isolate.

Original poster
yellowgreysocks · 07/12/2021 20:25

@Wizzbangfizz

I and the majority i know turned off the app a long time ago so the likelihood of being pinged is also low.
As @glitterelf said - it's not really about the app anymore.
OP posts:
MrsJackWhicher · 07/12/2021 20:26

I certainly wouldn’t tell T&T names of anyone outside of my household in the run up to Xmas I would tell the people themselves then it would be up to them to make a decision, the vast majority of people are doing this already and a hell of a lot are blocking
Yes would be madness to tell T&T. I would inform the people but definitely not T&T!
Don’t even know the number to block it, but would just ignore a call from an unknown number.

Mindymomo · 07/12/2021 20:26

I get what you are saying, but basically it’s a lot more than the 40,000 daily cases, if you x that by the 10 days of isolation. Many people will be spending Christmas and New Year isolating in their homes as have so many 100,000’s throughout the year.

blameitonthecaffeine · 07/12/2021 20:26

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be the Covid positive people stuck alone over Christmas. They're mostly young people who will stay at home with their families.

It's all the elderly, already more likely to be isolated people who don't have Covid but won't be able to go to their children because their grandchildren have Covid who will be spending Christmas alone again.

RabbitFooFoo · 07/12/2021 20:27

I can’t believe people would deliberately not test, infecting their friends and family just so they can have a jolly time, I would hope the majority are not so selfish. With friends and family like that, who needs enemies!

I’m with you op and think there will be a lot of people who will have their plans disrupted unfortunately.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 07/12/2021 20:27

What everyone so obsessed with Xmas day…
It’s just another day

2022HereWeCome · 07/12/2021 20:32

i suspect the majority of people won't self-isolate if they are a CC. They will do LFT and get on with their lives if they are negative. I think a lot of people have had enough and despite what the rules are will do their own thing. FWIW makes not a jot of difference if I'm told to isolate or not as wasn't planning to see family anyway as they live hours away.

minipie · 07/12/2021 20:32

[quote userxx]@minipie I think a lot of elderly people are thinking fuck it, I'll take my chances! [/quote]
Right, no issues with that, but it should be their informed choice surely? As in, the person seeing them should say they’ve been in close contact and ask them their view on meeting ? Not the head in the sand tell nobody approach being described up thread.

Neverfittedin85 · 07/12/2021 20:33

@nordica

I don't know why so many people have misunderstood this thread, OP!

I get what you mean. It's true close contacts don't have to isolate if double vaccinated or if they're children unless it's Omicron, but if your kids test positive, you're hardly going to leave them and go off to celebrate Christmas with your other relatives.

I do suspect people will test less the closer to Christmas we get though, especially with mild or no symptoms. The same happened last year, there was a spike in case numbers after Christmas when people started testing again (too soon to be the result of increased cases from Christmas mixing).

Absolutely baffled how people have misunderstood this. Its quite clear what op means. I agree also people will test less :)
Lolacat1234 · 07/12/2021 20:33

@blameitonthecaffeine

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be the Covid positive people stuck alone over Christmas. They're mostly young people who will stay at home with their families.

It's all the elderly, already more likely to be isolated people who don't have Covid but won't be able to go to their children because their grandchildren have Covid who will be spending Christmas alone again.

Exactly our situation if my son brings it home from school this week or next Sad
4pmwinetimebebeh · 07/12/2021 20:36

@OnceuponaRainbow18 it may not mean much to you but it’s the most important Christian festival celebrating the birth of the lord and saviour. For most families it’s an important milestone and celebration and a family focussed event. Imagine the back lash if you’d said ‘why are Muslims so obsessed with Eid’. Just because you don’t care about it doesn’t mean others don’t.

Mamadothehump · 07/12/2021 20:41

@MrsJackWhicher

I certainly wouldn’t tell T&T names of anyone outside of my household in the run up to Xmas I would tell the people themselves then it would be up to them to make a decision, the vast majority of people are doing this already and a hell of a lot are blocking Yes would be madness to tell T&T. I would inform the people but definitely not T&T! Don’t even know the number to block it, but would just ignore a call from an unknown number.
You don't get a call but a text from the NHS so it's not just as simple as ignoring a call!!
Watapalava · 07/12/2021 20:45

Mama you get a text initially but they can’t guarantee you’ve read it and are informed do you can delete

A quick google will tell you the T&T number tho to prevent even text messages

paranoidnamechanger · 07/12/2021 20:47

No, that ship has sailed, to some degree. It's like this wearing mask baloney - Covid fatigue has hit and people will be thinking of themselves and their enjoyment. It's pretty much unenforceable anyway.

PokemonGoGoGo · 07/12/2021 20:48

Nope, people will just stop testing because they won't want to isolate over Christmas, and even if they do test they sure as hell won't name any contacts!

The cases in December will go right down and January will be an absolute shit show.