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Original poster

Has there been any whispers about post mew year restrictions?

85 replies

Wednesdayafternoon · 30/12/2021 09:56

In England!

It's my sons birthday on Friday next week and I literally have no idea whether he'll be in or out of school, able to have a friend round or if we can go anywhere 🙈

Just wondered if any things have been leaked etc?

Sorry if this has been covered, I don't have time to scan the page thoroughly!

OP posts:
CorsicaDreaming · 30/12/2021 12:29

Also, would you really want to be in an overflow nightingale tent in a car park in January 🥶

gogohm · 30/12/2021 12:39

Sounds like the new facilities are for bed blockers, those that cannot be discharged due to care plans etc not being sorted.

the80sweregreat · 30/12/2021 12:41

Even the DM said something yesterday about PM Boris Johnson being seen after ten days ' breaks cover ' was the headline!

the80sweregreat · 30/12/2021 12:42

@CorsicaDreaming

Also, would you really want to be in an overflow nightingale tent in a car park in January 🥶
Nope, sounds a good way to make a bad situation worse to me !
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 30/12/2021 12:52

according to this BBC article the numbers in hospital have increased by 2000 more people in 2 days. If this becomes 2000 more in hospital every two days it would be completely unsustainable in such a short time frame it's scary.
The worry is that the 2000 doubles and doubles etc as cases increase. It could be a very short time frame. Hopefully it won't and admissions will be for a shorter time. I think that's what the government are waiting to see.

drinkingwineoutofamug · 30/12/2021 12:56

Telegraph whispers about the rule of 6 again for January .
Sorry can't link , behind pay wall

Covidworries · 30/12/2021 13:08

@the80sweregreat

First thought was would keep the bodies cold till they can be dealt with. Seriously hoping that isnt what the tempory tents will be used for

Kyliealwayshadthebestdisco · 30/12/2021 13:12

OP, they’ve been pretty clear that they aren’t shutting schools again whatever happens. There have been whispers about rule of 6 again and encouraging outdoor meeting rather than indoors but it’s pretty cold at this time of year as you say!!

Tippexy · 30/12/2021 13:13

@Wednesdayafternoon

In England!

It's my sons birthday on Friday next week and I literally have no idea whether he'll be in or out of school, able to have a friend round or if we can go anywhere 🙈

Just wondered if any things have been leaked etc?

Sorry if this has been covered, I don't have time to scan the page thoroughly!

Seriously? The Prime Minister has said recently there is no way schools are closing again. Ever. It's not happening.

Why these frothy threads every damn day?!

Tippexy · 30/12/2021 13:14

@the80sweregreat

Even the DM said something yesterday about PM Boris Johnson being seen after ten days ' breaks cover ' was the headline!
Again, this is nonsense, he was off TV for three days over Christmas.

Not ten.

the80sweregreat · 30/12/2021 13:21

Well , I read ten days, which goes to show that even Boris Johnson's biggest fans ( about this situation anyway ) are wrong about things too.
I'm not saying he can't have time off at Christmas! Just what I read yesterday.
They are backing him up about having less restrictions imposed.

CallmeHendricks · 30/12/2021 13:24

"Seriously? The Prime Minister has said recently there is no way schools are closing again. Ever. It's not happening."

Where/when did he say this? In those exact words? Do you have a link? And how is he planning on stopping schools closing if they have too few staff to open and there are no supply staff available?

itsgettingweird · 30/12/2021 13:34

@CallmeHendricks

"Seriously? The Prime Minister has said recently there is no way schools are closing again. Ever. It's not happening."

Where/when did he say this? In those exact words? Do you have a link? And how is he planning on stopping schools closing if they have too few staff to open and there are no supply staff available?

Exactly.

He said this last year the day they went back.

We went into lockdown that evening!

I don't believe he will close them again. Not after allowing mixing xmas and NY. However I do believe there will be continued problems with staffing due to the virus and the transmissibility of omicron.

The cynical part of me thinks he's going for lockdown by stealth this time.

Tippexy · 30/12/2021 13:36

@CallmeHendricks

"Seriously? The Prime Minister has said recently there is no way schools are closing again. Ever. It's not happening."

Where/when did he say this? In those exact words? Do you have a link? And how is he planning on stopping schools closing if they have too few staff to open and there are no supply staff available?

25/12

Boris Johnson has vowed to keep schools open in January despite soaring numbers of Covid cases, raising fears about the impact the decision may have on the NHS.

The prime minister has told Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, that he is “absolutely determined” to send children back to school after the holidays.

The two, who are understood to discuss the issue almost daily, believe that education is the government’s “No 1 priority” and school closures are “not something being considered”.

A source close to Zahawi said: “There is a shared commitment across government to make sure they stay open.”

the80sweregreat · 30/12/2021 13:38

I bet many places such as pubs / nightclubs might just shut anyway tomorrow night due to lack of staff isolating etc.
Sad for the young and the owners who are facing Christmas time with less money. It all has a knock on effect on the economy too.
It's all so sad and worrying too :(

vickyc90 · 30/12/2021 13:39

@Tippexy I think he will end isolation all together before he closes schools again. The majority of people are well enough to work with COVID

the80sweregreat · 30/12/2021 13:40

If isolation does end, can we stop the testing too ? Would that continue?

CallmeHendricks · 30/12/2021 13:56

@Tippexy, right, so he didn't say exactly what you said then? You made up those words, "No way, ever, not happening."

He/they said they "are determined." That's a whole different thing and circumstances could quite well put a spanner in the works. You know, like this time last year, when they also said schools would not close.

RedToothBrush · 30/12/2021 14:12

At the moment I'd say things look ok for next week.

The week after?

That's where it might get interesting. Kids start going back to school from Tuesday. In theory high school kids should be doing return to school lateral flows. There are no lateral flows available.

So next week might be all kinds of tasty. However Johnson still hasn't got the support of his backbenchers so he has his hands tied. Things will have to get a lot worse before there will be an intervention (this is possible even in the short term).

However I would say atm the numbers probably are better than expected, even in terms of hospitalisations. Deaths are still down (note there is a lag on reporting deaths over Christmas with higher numbers expected today or tomorrow). The scientific information starting to come in is also encouraging.

Where the problems lie are with staffing and the consequences of new year with a lack of lateral flows available. It could easily blow up in a large crisis as a result.

So next plans for next Friday - probably ok if you (and guests) can avoid getting it yourself and theres enough staff at entertainment and hospitality venues.

A party for 40 kids on the 15th January? Good luck with that. I think thats on the crazy side tbh.

Tippexy · 30/12/2021 14:14

[quote CallmeHendricks]@Tippexy, right, so he didn't say exactly what you said then? You made up those words, "No way, ever, not happening."

He/they said they "are determined." That's a whole different thing and circumstances could quite well put a spanner in the works. You know, like this time last year, when they also said schools would not close.[/quote]
Well let’s come back to this thread at Easter and see, shall we? Schools are not going to close. No need for all the hysteria.

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 30/12/2021 14:33

The government won't close schools but whether individual schools can safely open is another question. The government campaign to get ex teachers back in the classroom is an acknowledgement that they're short on staff.

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 30/12/2021 14:56

I think everything will stay open and he might Chuck in the rule of 6 . That's it !

MrsWhites · 30/12/2021 15:08

Given the situation with lack of testing available, particularly lateral flow tests for secondary schools, would it not be sensible to at least delay the spring term for a week or two whilst stocks of these tests can be replenished. Surely better that than to allow the snowball to keep running down the hill, if the shit does hit the fan with schools and staffing levels surely that will cause far more disruption to education.

Againstmachine · 30/12/2021 15:12

My dogs brothers dog walker is friends with Boris's hamster and says they are going to shut everything down.

Really noone knows apart from the government.

the80sweregreat · 30/12/2021 15:16

To be fair, some people on mumsnet are in the know , but it is hard to find amongst the whole ' someone I met at a bus stop ' type speculation and I've heard a few conspiracy theories at the bus stops too!