My Christmas is cancelled

[TooTiredForThis2]

My husband tested positive.

I cant tell you how much I needed this Christmas. The one time of the year where all of my family and family friends make eachother a priority so that we are together. I hate this. We cant get an online shop because slots are full, and we don't own a car.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2021 are quite new and

and this is their summary

"These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 to remove the distinction between close contacts of a known or suspected Omicron case and close contacts of all other positive cases. All close contacts, regardless of the variant, will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are:

(a)a person who has received a complete course of the coronavirus vaccination, provided that the contact takes place more than 14 days after they have completed their course of vaccinations;

(b)a person who is taking part in a vaccine trial,

(c)a person who can provide evidence that for clinical reasons they should not be vaccinated, or

(d)a child.

The Regulations also provide that, where a person comes within those categories, but was in a period of self-isolation before 6.00 a.m. on 14th December due to their close contact with a known or suspected positive Omicron case, their period of self-isolation ends at 6.00 a.m. on 14th December. "

So the gist of it is if my vaccinated adult children who live here test positive then I have to isolate (unvaccinated). They have the power in effect to imprison me and I have the power in a sense to kill them (assuming an infection of mine might kill a vaccinated person).

I suppose "complete course" is the interesting bit. One son just had his booster so not yet 14 days beyond that and the other is tomorrow.
Those 2020 regs references say complete the course is 2 doses however. I am surprised those newer regs do not define complete course to update it for boosters. So may be those without the booster 14 days ago are still complete course if had the first two. (Also if you cannot for medical reasons have the vaccine then the regs say no legal obligation to isolate if someone in your home has covid with a PCR and you do the daily tests)

Sorry probably already been said as I haven't time to read the whole thread....but you can still go out? Make sure you do a lateral flow etc but you don't have to isolate xxx

@Xenia this is a good point. The law and advice are two different things and at this point I am following the law and then making decisions to suit my circumstances.

The fact that it is not easy to establish what is law v advice is quite deliberate in my view.

@justustwoandmoo

Sorry probably already been said as I haven't time to read the whole thread....but you can still go out? Make sure you do a lateral flow etc but you don't have to isolate xxx

She can’t if she is in Scotland. In Scotland if one member of a family tests positive, all household members have to isolate for 10 days which is fucking ridiculous because we could all end up being off for a month.

If you have children,
FGS do not talk about christmas being cancelled.
In fact even if you don't have children, stop talking about christmas being cancelled! Make the best of it

Although baffled that neither of you drive, and yet you hadn't booked an online slot

Pegasus, it is a pity the law has become so complicated. It would be better if they just reissued the new regulations with all previous changes in them rather than add regs to regs - some original regulations are now up to no. 26 in terms of amendments to them. So just above I read the very latest law on isolation in England - see above. However the definition of "complete course" is not in there. So I went back to the regulations mentioned in it and they say complete course is 2 doses. There may well however be another set of regs between those 2 saying complete course includes the booster although given there is no state promise to offer boosters in full until 1 Jan 2022 my conclusion is if you have had 2 jabs more than 14 days ago then as of today you are fully vaccinated and have had a complete course and can go your merry way out and about even if husband is very ill at home with covid as long as you do a lateral flow. My son by the way for the first time ever could not get later flows at a local chemist. There are others in the house but it does show people may not be able to go out simply because they cannot do a test the state says you must do to leave the house.

I would prefer the law to allow more freedom (a very minority view) and let people take their own decisions as they already are - son's friend and he had lunch in the garden yesterday and had both he and my son do lateral flows before they came over because the friend has a granny and they will be having Christmas dinner together etc. Other son's girlfriend with very sick father asked my son not to go to the gym for now (I pay vast amounts for that so that is down the drain and no refund from the state I expect as ever.... ) so he has been exercising at home . Those are personal decisions based on people's own views and risk profiles.

It is not so bad once you work out what the law is if the whole family has the same views on things. It is very difficult if they disagree. 50% of our family is vaccinated. I will need to ensure firearms are left at the door before we sit down to the Christmas meal.... only joking. I will keep the kitchen knives out of reach. We had better ban discussion of covid.

Our local council has procedures in place to support people in your situation.

Ring yours, explain the situation, they may have things in place to see that you can at least get some food delivered.

I'm fairly sure there's some kind of volunteer responder programme through the NHS in our area, you have to pay for your shopping but they will go and get it and bring it for you.

@Xenia

You pay 'vast amounts' for your adult son's gym membership? why?

And most gyms allow you to pause membership

as long as he's not been told its Omicron

She can still go out in England if it's Omicron as long as LFT tests are clear.

Re shopping...

Have you tried signing up to Amazon fresh or Morrisons via Amazon?
I discovered the latter this year and it's been fab for getting a last minute delivery when the normal online supermarkets have been full.

Some restaurants might be doing Christmas Day menus which you collect in Christmas Eve and essentially reheat/simple assembly. We did one for a nice place locally last Christmas and it was great.

Failing that your normal take always may well be open. We go for a curry in Christmas Day and the same place also does takeaways for collection and, for a slightly higher price, delivery. Not your typical Christmas dinner, but something you might be able to consider.

Are you all jabbed? If so, why did you test?

Do you have kids? If so do know any school mums locally that you can ask to pick up groceries if you give them money?

@OfMinceAndMen

Are you all jabbed? If so, why did you test?

Seriously?

Now @Xenia is an anti-vaxxer?!?! Why aren't you vaccinated @Xenia ???

I'm presuming the reason the OP hadn't already booked an online slot was because she and her husband were going to travel to family who would be hosting them over Christmas?
I'm sorry to read this, @TooTiredForThis2. I hope you manage to sort your shopping out (Iceland does look really excellent if they deliver to your postcode, I hadn't realised how much they'd changed since I left home!) and that your husband recovers quickly and that you don't catch it yourself.
@Meadowblossom - I am really sorry for your loss.

Sorry OP bit of a diversion in my last message. I am sorry your Xmas has been spoiled. It looks like you have had good advice on this thread.

Trying not to judge but how have you ended up isolated , with neither of you driving and no friends or relatives near? Do you have kids (with a friends parent who could pick up a click and collect?) Go on your local Facebook group, there are usually plenty of offers to help locally. I would go on it and just ask......... you have nothing to lose.

Actually, if you are positive and feeling okay, do the same, just late in the evening.

Please don't do this.
That could be other people's Christmas spoilt

Covid put me in hospital. I wouldn't want to be the type of person who could potentially do that to someone else, going out whilst knowingly being infectious - even more so over Christmas.

@OfMinceAndMen

Are you all jabbed? If so, why did you test?

🤦🏻‍♀️

Because 2 x AZ jabs = 0% protection

2 x Pfi jabs = 20% protection

2 x Pfi jab + booster = 70% jobs.

So there is ALWAYS a chance you can get Covid, and even triple jabbed people are getting it.

Jobs 🤣

I only know my neighbours to say hello to them but if they knocked on my door and explained they have covid and could we pick up a click and collect order for them then of course I would. Granted for me it would be a 15 min job as Tesco's is close by but even if it wasn't so close I'd still help!

Deliveroo does groceries in my town…
And/or is there a neighbourhood Facebook group where ou can ask for help?

Hope you get something sorted soon!

Sorry your Christmas is ruined this year.

@PixiKitKat

I only know my neighbours to say hello to them but if they knocked on my door and explained they have covid and could we pick up a click and collect order for them then of course I would. Granted for me it would be a 15 min job as Tesco's is close by but even if it wasn't so close I'd still help!

May be a note through the door rather than actually coming to your front door!

@OfMinceAndMen

Are you all jabbed? If so, why did you test?

Why wouldn't you test if you have symptoms or been a close contact if someone who has covid?

Surely any half responsible person tests in those circumstances,
Few people want to to be one responsible for passing on covid to someone who could be way more,vulnerable than yourself.

Also, some people have to test at times. Dh visits hospices, care homes and hospitals as part of his job. He can't go inside without a test. Likewise he is a responsible adult so if seeing any vulnerable clients he will do a LFT before hand.

We will also all do LFTs before seeing grandparents over Christmas.

Teen dd will be taking a test before,socialising with a group of mates next week, despite them mostly being at least double jabbed. They a;e;are to have scrapped their club plans to have a smaller meet up - and have all agreed to test before they go.

Sometimes testing if just part of being a responsible member of society, and is to protect other people more than yourself.

@MrsMurdstone

Deliveroo does groceries in my town… And/or is there a neighbourhood Facebook group where ou can ask for help?

Hope you get something sorted soon!

Sorry your Christmas is ruined this year.

It's only 'ruined' if the OP forces it to be!