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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

What do you think the chances are of Christmas being cancelled?

116 replies

43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 00:19

We're meant to be travelling to visit the grandparents in Scotland - from England - for Christmas. DCs and GPs are so excited, they really missed each other while we were on lockdown.

But I'm getting nervous at the talk of "plan C".

What do you reckon, do I need to start making a Christmas back up plan in case it's all cancelled?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 10/12/2021 12:51

It's all seems positive for your trip up maybe have some food in the freezer just incase you need to isolate.

Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 12:56

@Mrsjayy

It's all seems positive for your trip up maybe have some food in the freezer just incase you need to isolate.
Well, if Christmas was this week, yes! And it's not negative.

I'm still worried though, she made it clear the situation is fast changing and hasn't given any assurances about Christmas! So my poor nails are still being bitten! Not out of the woods yet I don't think...

Will defo stock the freezer.

Other logistics include I've already sent some of the presents ahead to the GPs, that seems rash now! The bloody oven needs fixing (or, probably, replacing) and some other household stuff I need to get done if we're spending Christmas here.

OP posts:
Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 12:58

DP is pointing out the biggest change is she's saying to isolate for 10 days even if you have a negative test if you live with someone who's been confirmed as having Omicron.

OP posts:
halloweenie13 · 10/12/2021 13:01

I appreciate people want to have normal christmas' and new years and that's absolutely fine, but cases are still spreading and I don't think having parties are ok under any exception. I know the moronic government lied last year and they should be penalised for that but by no means should people be holding big parties, therefore increasing rate of transmission and being the sole cause of more deaths.

ecceromani · 10/12/2021 13:11

I'm still worried though, she made it clear the situation is fast changing and hasn't given any assurances about Christmas! So my poor nails are still being bitten! Not out of the woods yet I don't think...

Don't worry about this @43leftfeet
She ALWAYS says she can't give assurances and can't rule anything out.
The messaging is always doom, gloom and quite negative so don't let that bit put you off.

ElephantOfRisk · 10/12/2021 13:15

@halloweenie13

I appreciate people want to have normal christmas' and new years and that's absolutely fine, but cases are still spreading and I don't think having parties are ok under any exception. I know the moronic government lied last year and they should be penalised for that but by no means should people be holding big parties, therefore increasing rate of transmission and being the sole cause of more deaths.
So, Omicron is in at least 38 countries round the world and there are no reported deaths, can we stop catastrophising?

The number of cases (as has been shown) is completely irrelevant. It's not a case unless the person is actually ill from Covid and requires hospital treatment.

People should be provided with accurate information and able to make their own judgements now.

Callisto1 · 10/12/2021 13:17

I think how many people gather depends very much on the size of the family. For bigger families with lots of kids it can be quite tricky to keep the numbers down!
We'll only be 7 if everyone makes it.

The biggest issue for us is travel. You can't really drive 7 hrs one way with little kids for 1 day.

Notwithittoday · 10/12/2021 13:21

I’m in same position. If restrictions are put in my mum won’t come which means the rest of my side of the family won’t come. It’ll be depressing

Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 13:24

The number of cases (as has been shown) is completely irrelevant. It's not a case unless the person is actually ill from Covid and requires hospital treatment.

The number of cases is not irrelevant, it's just a different calculation.

Omicron is so much more transmissable than Delta, even though the number of admissions is lower in proportion to the number of cases, that may still mean there are high numbers of admissions in real numbers as it's coming from a much larger pool of people.

And so it still is a threat to the NHS running effectively, potentially (well, that and decades of underfunding and privatisation by stealth, but we can't do much about that by Christmas).

OP posts:
Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 13:27

The biggest issue for us is travel. You can't really drive 7 hrs one way with little kids for 1 day. Exactly! This is what scuppered us last time.

We'll only be 3 households, 2 of which are already a "bubble" - if we go down that route.

But if we can't stay overnight, like last time, we're stuffed!

OP posts:
lonsdaleshorts · 10/12/2021 13:27

@43leftfeet

DP is pointing out the biggest change is she's saying to isolate for 10 days even if you have a negative test if you live with someone who's been confirmed as having Omicron.
Thing is, I think folk will just stop testing if whole families are to isolate for 10 days now. I think people will just say they've got a cold or something else.
Mrsjayy · 10/12/2021 13:31

I think you probably need to have a conversation with the Grandparents see what they want to do and make up your mind together if you go or not a lot of ifs and buts still going round you probably need to make a decision and not wait for further restrictions which I don't think there will be.

tigger1001 · 10/12/2021 13:32

@43leftfeet

DP is pointing out the biggest change is she's saying to isolate for 10 days even if you have a negative test if you live with someone who's been confirmed as having Omicron.
That's already the case though - I thought she said households will go back to isolating for 10 days if one is positive for covid. Not just the new variant
ICalledYouLastNightFromGlasgow · 10/12/2021 13:32

@43leftfeet

DP is pointing out the biggest change is she's saying to isolate for 10 days even if you have a negative test if you live with someone who's been confirmed as having Omicron.
Not just omicron? Any COVID and tighter isolation rules reintroduced?
tigger1001 · 10/12/2021 13:33

"Thing is, I think folk will just stop testing if whole families are to isolate for 10 days now. I think people will just say they've got a cold or something else."

I think so too.

ElephantOfRisk · 10/12/2021 13:35

No, the number of "cases" is irrelevant. A case is someone ill enough to be hospitalised with covid. If that's what we were counting instead of everyone with a positive test result then it would be relevant. In Scotland we are still not being told how many people in hospital with covid are there because of covid.

NightmareSlashDelightful · 10/12/2021 13:36

Stripping away all the hyperbolic language (which is pretty standard Sturgeon) the main message is much the same as Johnson: test regularly, get vaccinated and/or boosted, and consider who you'll be meeting.

Going on about not having massive work piss-ups is primarily point-scoring against Johnson IMO. Showing him up to be the hypocrite that he is.

Additional context to this... big parts of Scotland are relatively under-serviced for hospitals, especially large hospitals. So-called 'bed blocking' (I hate that expression) is also an issue in some areas, Edinburgh in particular at the moment. So a much smaller number of hospitalised cases would have a more significant impact in many areas.

Lacedwithgrace · 10/12/2021 13:37

In your position I'd make a back up plan. Plan to go but also have a turkey in the freezer at home. And make plans in case you get stuck there. Don't break the rules, it can wait

supersonicginandtonic · 10/12/2021 13:47

My elderly relatives are the complete opposite. They don't want to spend their final Christmas's away from families and friends. They'd rather enjoy what time they have left. They have been the same throughout and I think it's great.

Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 14:17

That's already the case though - I thought she said households will go back to isolating for 10 days if one is positive for covid. Not just the new variant

Oh sorry if misunderstood! I didn't actually hear this bit, DP did, I was just passing it on! Chinese whispers at play obvs! Sorry.

OP posts:
Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 14:21

Going on about not having massive work piss-ups is primarily point-scoring against Johnson IMO. Showing him up to be the hypocrite that he is. And he deserves it. What does he take us all for?

There was a thread here on Mumsnet when it looked likely he'd become the Tory leader, asking if anyone knew him in real life and what he's really like. It was an ugly picture of a man with a massively over inflated ego who thinks everyone outside of his narrow social set (and, probably, all women) is beneath him / to be treated with contempt.

OP posts:
tigger1001 · 10/12/2021 14:21

@NightmareSlashDelightful

Stripping away all the hyperbolic language (which is pretty standard Sturgeon) the main message is much the same as Johnson: test regularly, get vaccinated and/or boosted, and consider who you'll be meeting.

Going on about not having massive work piss-ups is primarily point-scoring against Johnson IMO. Showing him up to be the hypocrite that he is.

Additional context to this... big parts of Scotland are relatively under-serviced for hospitals, especially large hospitals. So-called 'bed blocking' (I hate that expression) is also an issue in some areas, Edinburgh in particular at the moment. So a much smaller number of hospitalised cases would have a more significant impact in many areas.

It really was full of hyperbolic language today wasn't it. It's just political point scoring and not required.
Original poster
43leftfeet · 10/12/2021 14:23

@43leftfeet

Going on about not having massive work piss-ups is primarily point-scoring against Johnson IMO. Showing him up to be the hypocrite that he is. And he deserves it. What does he take us all for?

There was a thread here on Mumsnet when it looked likely he'd become the Tory leader, asking if anyone knew him in real life and what he's really like. It was an ugly picture of a man with a massively over inflated ego who thinks everyone outside of his narrow social set (and, probably, all women) is beneath him / to be treated with contempt.

Here it is, in case anyone's interested: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3611674-Has-anyone-worked-with-Boris-What-s-he-really-like
OP posts:
itsasmallworldafterall · 10/12/2021 14:39

Can anyone that was watching explain about the new isolation rules, it says on BBC if a close contact (not household) then can stop isolating if a negative PCR and double vaccinated, does that mean all kids under 12 will need to isolate 10 days whether close contact or household contact? I'm thinking then whole classes being off will happen more?

tigger1001 · 10/12/2021 14:40

@43leftfeet

Going on about not having massive work piss-ups is primarily point-scoring against Johnson IMO. Showing him up to be the hypocrite that he is. And he deserves it. What does he take us all for?

There was a thread here on Mumsnet when it looked likely he'd become the Tory leader, asking if anyone knew him in real life and what he's really like. It was an ugly picture of a man with a massively over inflated ego who thinks everyone outside of his narrow social set (and, probably, all women) is beneath him / to be treated with contempt.

Whether he deserves it or not a covid briefing isn't the time for political point scoring.

This isn't a game, and all politicians need to realise that.