Help! Should I go to London tomorrow…

[jumpjackflash]

…to see my lovely friend who I haven’t seen in years and who lives abroad (v v far away)? It’s my only chance to see her, BUT

will involve:

• 1 hour train
• cab or tube in London
• drink/food somewhere (hopefully outside)

I had the booster 6 days ago but have 3 young unvaccinated kids and just can’t seem to decide what to do!! If I catch it and mess Christmas up for my family I will feel so bad.

If central London have you looked at how far it is on the ground to walk rather than tube? Depending on where you are going sometimes it can be a similar time, especially if she would be willing to walk part way. When I commuted my onward trip was 20 mins whether by train, bus or walking.

I live in central London and this is the most nervous I've seen my neighbours / fellow Londoners since the early days of Covid. The streets are MUCH quieter this week. The mood has changed dramatically in the last day or two. People are staying home as much as possible. No-one wants their Christmas ruined (again!). Remember last year Londoners were locked down on Christmas Day and couldn't meet anyone, unlike the rest of the country. No-one wants to risk missing Christmas 2 years in a row. Unfortunately the tourists/out of towners don't seem to care. So no wonder rates are increasing so quickly here.

So I really wouldn't be coming into London right now. There is already talk of London specific measures being introduced.

Plus catch Covid now and seeing people over Christmas is over.

I agree.
The sheer number of people in London makes social distancing more difficult.
Unfortunately I haven't seen 90 - 95% of people wearing masks on public transport - the number is up, but it's not at that level.

It's 14 days before the booster's effective.

A week ago I might have said yes, but the situation ATM is changing fast. Hour by hour in some ways

@jumpjackflash - couldn't your friend travel out of London and come and meet you? Preferably outside somewhere?

I’ve decided not to go to London to see my old school friend this week (she can’t travel to me). We’re both in our late 60s.
I’ve made the 3 hour journey multiple times over the last 18 months and have always felt reasonably relaxed when travelling by train and Tube. I’m also now triple jabbed. But this feels different. As pp have pointed out, cases in London are increasing very fast.
Having said that, I will if possible drive down on Christmas Day to see family, also in London. It’s partly to protect this option that I’m staying at home this week.

Basically OP I think that the "experts" are saying that we are all going to get the Omicron variant, the question is when. Also it is increasing at an alarming rate everywhere, not just in London.

If you are not drastically overweight, and not suffering from any autoimmune diseases (which I am presuming that you aren't or you wouldn',t be even contemplating this), and if you take plenty of masks so you can change them frequently, have a good stash of hand sanitiser on you, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water whenever you go to the loo, and get as much fresh air as you can, then I don't think that you will contract Omicron any quicker in London than you would in your own town or city. If you do test positive in about a week's time you won't actually know that you caught it on your trip to London. As others have said, your own children would be the most likely culprits.

I think that in the years to come you would most likely regret not seeing your friend, much more than maybe feeling a bit fluey on Christmas Day, but only you know you. Please let us know your decision, and if you do go please come back and tell us how it went!

ps. Don't let the Londoners' put you off, they obviously want to deter people from the capital, but if you follow a sensible regime you will probably be less of a threat than their fellow Londoners'.
😷🚮🚻💦👐🏻😁

Don't let the Londoners' put you off, they obviously want to deter people from the capital, but if you follow a sensible regime you will probably be less of a threat than their fellow Londoners'.

Um, it's not that I think the OP's a threat to me, it's that I think she has a higher chance of catching Covid in London atm.

@urbanbuddha

It's 14 days before the booster's effective.

That's the most pessimistic take on the booster's speed... It's 14 days until maximum protection.... the curve on the chart in the attached article shows a substantial flattening after just 5 days or so.

www.businessinsider.com/chart-shows-how-fast-covid-booster-shot-protection-kicks-in-2021-11?amp

@NoSquirrels

If I were you I’d go.

But I advised my boss not to earlier so what do I know?

You have to judge your individual circumstance.

If you’ve got 3 young kids and we’re having Christmas at home, then meh. Take a chance.

If you are travelling to family pre-Christmas for a few days, don’t.

It’s not clear cut.

I don’t think it’s London that makes the difference, it’s extra exposure so tube ups it, crowded hospitality venue ups it etc.

This. All the people saying London is no worse than anywhere else are missing the point - for most people right now it's about deciding your acceptable level of exposure risk in order to minimise the chance of having to isolate over Christmas (which is obviously a worse thing if you're meant to be spending Christmas with others). I live in London and turned down the option of dinner out with friends for this reason, but we all live in London and can see each other in the new year. If it was my only chance to see them I might have risked it. We have a one year old and no desire to cook Christmas dinner ourselves so catching it now would feel pretty cataclysmic. Other people might be happy with a cosy Christmas at home. Only you can do your personal risk assessment

[quote dhdislsndh]@rrhuth not everything is about omicron
I'm on about covid more generally. London has consistently had much lower rates than the rest of the UK. [/quote]
Not any more

[quote dhdislsndh]@rrhuth not everything is about omicron
I'm on about covid more generally. London has consistently had much lower rates than the rest of the UK. [/quote]
Oh, I assumed we were talking about now as the OP is talking about now.

If we are discussing whether London had high or low rates in the past, I apologise. Not sure how it is relevant, but I am sure at some point in the past London had lower rates, yes

I live in London suburbs and I'm going about my business as usual (supermarkets, short bus journeys etc) but I am feeling a little nervous and considering whether to miss a couple of social events next week. The issue for us is that we are due to stay with an elderly relative for Christmas. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be so bothered, the risk of serious illness for my immediate family is low and we can't put our lives on hold forever. I would say it all comes down to what your plans for Christmas are and whether you will be seeing anyone vulnerable.

@jumpjackflash

Fair enough. Thanks everyone!

@jumpjackflash Did you go OP?