I thought that was one of the reason why the numbers had to be low. We all know the normal infection rate is 1:3 - when you start from a small base, the numbers rise slowly but still become large very quickly. I'm not sure the gov is stupid enough to throw this open when the base is still so large. I know we still have another week to see what the effect of lockdown was - I think my concern though is the lack of time (need at least two weeks don't we?) between coming out of lockdown and Christmas to see the effect of reducing restrictions and the students travelling home. The timing just seems all wrong - although I'm not sure what 'good timing' would be in winter when we all know the NHS is under pressure anyway - but at least some seasonal infections are down as a side effect of lockdown anyway.
If you are putting your faith in the vaccine, as many are, then you may have to wait until at least January before this safety net is cast.
This is something I don't understand. The vaccine isn't a cure and it won't be generally available before Christmas, so how can it make any difference to whether or not it's safe to all huddle together in December? I'm with you, AuntyR, I don't see that giving granny covid for Christmas is a good way to celebrate the New Year. I also object to the principle that all the other religious festivals that have been simply stamped on and all the people who will say 'let's skip Christmas for once and hope for a really fantastic Summer' are going to have to suffer through more severe restrictions for weeks just so that some people can have a few days super-spreading in mid winter.
Seems mad to me.
I'm steaming a small Christmas pud now, ready for me and OH to share just us, we've ordered a duck for Christmas rather than a turkey this year. We'll put up every fairy light we can find on the house to cheer the neighbours up (and hope they do the same), send out cards and presents in the post, put the Christmas music on loud and sing along, make lots of long phone calls, play silly games on Zoom (online Pictionary, anyone?) and then take the dogs for a really long walk on Boxing Day. It'll be different, but it'll be fine.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
As usual our Press is getting carried away, and leading to false hope. No vaccine will be available to make any difference to Christmas, and even by Easter next year, it is unlikely enough people will have been vaccinated to make enough of a difference.
The message that those of us who try to inform government remains the same: Hands, Face Space.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
You can give to charity,eat with friends relatives, all year round, Christmas unless you are religeous, is pure commercialism these days, most kids get far too much.ridiculous present lists. I got over it when my kids were small by saying we had to pay Father Christmas for the gifts. It started out as a Winter Pagan Festival.I said back in March, to all my kids, if we come out alive and without serioues health issues, I will be happy. One of my oldest daughters' best friends of over 35 years was on ITV breakfast last Friday, her Husband Steve been hospitalised since March, still very ill, I bet she would forgo all HER Christmases!!
I have a friend whose beloved husband is terminally ill, for him and thousands of others this is his last Christmas. When he was diagnosed in February many plans were made for him to see friends and family and celebrate his 60th, final, birthday in style. All cancelled. COVID isn’t the only reason many people won’t see anotherDecember 25th. For many of them this last year has been dreadful.
People often blame the government for the way they've handled the situation. How can the government know in advance what to do when they haven't had any experience of it? I live in France and it seems to me that the French government have handled it in pretty much the same way as the British government. But the population doesn't always obey the rules.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I am very nervous that the Government looks set to relax rules for “Christmas”.
If the science is that we still need to take precautions and protect the vulnerable then nothing should warrant ceasing to do this. As I said earlier, the virus will not be having a holiday. Until we have an effective vaccine or decide that the virus should run its course, despite the loss of life, then we shouldn’t have a break from our efforts imo.
I m heartily fed up with people who look upon a particular date - in this case December 25th - with rose coloured spectacles and state that they are going to mix together come what may. They may well contribute to spreading the virus and if a loved one catches it and dies then will that magical date, December 25th, still be looked upon in the future with such nostalgia?
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I'm with you, AuntyR, I don't see that giving granny covid for Christmas is a good way to celebrate the New Year.
I also object to the principle that all the other religious festivals that have been simply stamped on and all the people who will say 'let's skip Christmas for once and hope for a really fantastic Summer' are going to have to suffer through more severe restrictions for weeks just so that some people can have a few days super-spreading in mid winter.
Seems mad to me.
I'm steaming a small Christmas pud now, ready for me and OH to share just us, we've ordered a duck for Christmas rather than a turkey this year. We'll put up every fairy light we can find on the house to cheer the neighbours up (and hope they do the same), send out cards and presents in the post, put the Christmas music on loud and sing along, make lots of long phone calls, play silly games on Zoom (online Pictionary, anyone?) and then take the dogs for a really long walk on Boxing Day. It'll be different, but it'll be fine.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
The message that those of us who try to inform government remains the same: Hands, Face Space.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
If the science is that we still need to take precautions and protect the vulnerable then nothing should warrant ceasing to do this. As I said earlier, the virus will not be having a holiday. Until we have an effective vaccine or decide that the virus should run its course, despite the loss of life, then we shouldn’t have a break from our efforts imo.