[i]Up to three households can meet up during a five-day Christmas period of 23-27 December, leaders of the four UK nations have agreed.[/i]
So, what are specifics of this, it raises a few questions. I'm on the cautious side so would limit meet ups anyway.
Theoretically, it allows three houses to have a socially distanced Christmas together for 5 days. It sounds like this is UK wide guidance even if your local alert level is 'Very High'?
Or, if three households meet up for Christmas Day only, does that mean those three households cannot meet anyone else, i.e. for a walk outside, on the other 4 days? Or do normal rules then apply for other meet ups subject to the alert level for your area?
Or, if you don't meet any households for an 'indoors' Christmas, are you limited to three contacts with other households outside?
It certainly sounds like you can't go to see two sets of parents (not that I want to this year) if other adult siblings are also doing the same on different days, as thats not an exclusive bubble.
EDIT: Or have I missed the point and its about the fact that within your Christmas bubble, you are not legally required to social distance.
Or, if three households meet up for Christmas Day only, does that mean those three households cannot meet anyone else, i.e. for a walk outside, on the other 4 days
Yes.
Of we isolate for those 5 days, can we opt to not isolate for the next 25?
Do whatever you want.
If I'd been knocking my pan in to develop a vaccine, or had been working in a hospital I'd be tearing my hair out about now. I'm seriously considering ignoring the news and any future "guidelines" as it all seems so bloody pointless.
LET. IT. RIP.
is santa included as one of the 3 households assuming he comes down the chimney and is fingering all the goodies under the tree?
[i]Do whatever you want.[/i]
Not me! But in a weird way its more restrictive than normal for someone who was planning on meeting one set of parents for a half day...if it means you can't meet a mate for a boxing day ride as thats not an exclusive bubble.
Santa, the new super-spreader of the globe. Will he be vaccinated early?
I'm only planning to see 2 households anyway, my parents and my sister, with the maximum amount of days between them to allow for any symptoms to show and so we can prevent further spread.
Aye, same here, in laws and granny, on xmas day, that'll be it.
Just asked my mum which of her 3 grown up children she doesn’t want to see this Xmas.
and granny
there's the rub, if granny turns up for christmas dinner, grandchildren can only meet one set of grandparents.
Effectively more restrictive than where I am in tier 1 in Scotland. I can meet one other group indoors or two other groups outdoors and they can be different each time.
If I meet with my mam and bothers family none of us can meet anyone else over the 5 days. So either my wife joins us and she doesn't see her family or she moves out??
Interesting that there's been no comment on what restrictions will come in after the 27th...
We plan to isolate as far as possible as soon as school finishes then hopefully it will be safeish for my mum to visit at xmas.
So, what are specifics of this, it raises a few questions.
Note - "further guidance will be provided in due course"
Or just ignore the guidance whatever it is and do what you want.
Can you stay overnight (even if one or both of the households are in tier 3?)
Some family are too far for a day trip.
But more importantly nobody should have to spend Christmas Day with their relatives while sober...
Yes, overnight stays, and no travel restrictions.
The travel restrictions is of most interest, mibbe even get a couple of Munro's in.
Does anyone want to join my bubble so I don't have to spend any time with the inlaws?
Well stocked bar, I'm a half decent cook and I still ride bikes occasionally.
I’m still waiting for the specifics on carol singing.
The government is apparently going to issue guidelines
Surely they missed a trick by not calling it a "Christmas Bauble"?
Is anyone really paying attention to the specifics by point? Just do what you know to be sensible in the context of you and your family. What do you think will happen if you bubble with two other households on christmas day then go for a socially distanced bike ride with a mate on boxing day? The police arent going to turn up at your door and whack you all with fines for it.
Some people seem to love getting seriously anal about the detail and can I do this can I do that.
I was planning on a day trip to Barnard Castle myself.
Bonkers...
This 4 week lockdown period is having a positive effect on reducing transmission.
In a weeks time many areas aren’t going to see much change as they will be placed into Tier 3
(~70 based on where they were planning on rolling out the next fast tests)
Then 3 weeks of being asked to continue to follow these rules, until you can have 5 days where you can disregard them completely.
The whole message has been the majority of transmission has been generated on people meeting close contacts indoors, and that’s something we shouldn’t do. Now for 5 magical days, this is the only thing you can do, as lots of other things will be closed...
Awaits Lockdown 3 for the whole of February
The whole message has been the majority of transmission has been generated on people meeting close contacts indoors, and that’s something we shouldn’t do. Now for 5 magical days, this is the only thing you can do, as lots of other things will be closed…
This lockdown was clearly to 'pay' for christmas. So in theory we have already offset the 'damage' this 5 day freedom will cause.
Surely they missed a trick by not calling it a “Christmas Bauble”?
They probably nixed it after his "jolly careful" gag fell so flat.
This lockdown was clearly to ‘pay’ for christmas. So in theory we have already offset the ‘damage’ this 5 day freedom will cause.
I believe we will pay for it with tighter restrictions in January, though I may be mistaken
I believe that we will pay for it with a lot more deaths in January & February. Take the better advice from Prof Devi, don't blow it all now by meeting up indoors, wait a few more weeks and we'll have spring and vaccines. Only meet up outside, keep it severely limited and the sacrifices of recent months will be worthwhile. As Joan Bakewell said earlier- don't get shot in the trenches on armistice day.
Also a good way of clawing some furlough money back with the increase the government will probably see in inheritance tax
In a way it puts some families in a difficult position.
Imagine sticking to these rules (the rules don't make the situation safe, let's just remember that, they are more about limiting damage at a national level) then losing a family member just after Christmas due to this Consumer Super Spreader Event.... Just a matter of weeks before that family member might have got a vaccine. Particularly if they are elderly/at risk.
The recriminations and guilt over something like that could tear a family apart.
I don't like Christmas anyway but at least this year being humbug about it is actually the responsible way to be.😁
We are ignoring the latest stuff and going to stick as we have been and just have my mum come (as she is already in the bubble). Beyond that might meet the in laws but that's not definit.
as ever for us the rules change but what we are doing doesn't
Well, it didn't take much deliberation, but given various factors we'll just be keeping ourselves to ourselves and hoping to see family in England at Easter. Fingers crossed.
Thanks Chris, that answers most if not all of of my questions.
After 9 months only seeing my parents twice, working throughout Covid, following the rules and restricting my travelling I’m looking forward to seeing my parents at Xmas....2021
If you seriously thinking of breaking the rules then go **** yourself.
If you seriously thinking of breaking the rules then go **** yourself.
Of the people I know, most seem to planning to see less of people than the rules allow.
Same. I don't know anyone who is planning on going nuts. Just seeing the minimum
If you seriously thinking of breaking the rules then go **** yourself.
An acquaintance of mine that is supposed to be isolating after being in a meeting with someone that tested positive was still going to take his very elderly mother to a hospital appointment.
Thereby risking her life, his elderly fathers and any other random poor sods he met whilst at the hospital.
What a selfish **nt.
Fortunately a more sane family member of his has pointed this out to him and is taking her instead.
Makes you despair though.
We have just all rearranged our Christmases as a family. Instead of all meeting we have decided that we will do a secret santa food and drink box, then open on a family zoom meet up and open, drink, chat and then play bingo.
It's for one year.
Hopefully we will all be able to meet up after Easter if we are allowed with each other then.
My mum summed it up nicely earlier...it's one Christmas out of 64 and plenty more to come when we can meet up.
Perhaps we'll meet for a walk and that's it.
assuming he comes down the chimney and is fingering all the goodies under the tree?
Ecky thump!
Just asked my mum which of her 3 grown up children she doesn’t want to see this Xmas.
You should know by now which of the 3 is the least favourite. Likely to be the middle one.
For ****s sake, how anyone can not use a simple amount of common sense and respect for the people around them - including those in frontline services - before creating a shit shower of a mountain out of a mole hill as a thread like this I don’t know.
I really despair.
The Christmas rules are probably driven more by what a good proportion of people will do anyway, rather than what's sensible for Covid. Turning half the population into rule breakers over Christmas would probably undermine compliance with future restrictions if necessary.
Personally we'll have a more restrictive Christmas than allowed anyway - under pressure from my vulnerable parents to take family to visit though...
Just asked my mum which of her 3 grown up children she doesn’t want to see this Xmas.
if you have to ask, it’s probably you...
I really despair.
I think I said on one of the first pages of the Covid thread - "soon we'll know who all the pricks are"
Only being asked to do nothing and can't even manage that.
