To think we’ll be in lockdown by Christmas

The rumour is 4th January. Javid slipped up and said it apparently.

I think that our governments are getting a taste for being able to tighten control and our scientists are getting a taste for fame. Two years ago the only people who knew who Chris Witty was were the people he worked with, his family and some departments in Whitehall, now he is a media star. Flu and other virus agents have been around for centuries and data has always been collected and shared among the people who needed it to further their research. Do we the general public really need all this data?

I keep seeing articles that it will be a January lockdown if he does it at all.

England went into lockdown on 4th January 2021.

That would be a co-incidence, wouldn't it?

I'm a Civil Servant and nothing has been said about lockdown after Christmas.

Boris is desperate to keep everybody jolly in the Xmas season - he has a lot of ground to make up after all the mess he's managed to create for himself but we might have more restrictions which will never be called a 'lockdown'. His credibility is shot through and that means people will take less notice of him (especially his delightful backbenchers) so more restrictions may follow to make up for that credibility deficit.

Totally agree, the media as usual are scaring people, is it going to be like this every winter? We don't get locked down for flu and that changes every year.

Beware all.. I have had all my jabs and the flu jab and yet,after a trip to London last week to the RA and all masked up, I now have covid and it is horrible. not life threatening but very unpleasant..

We have just agreed that we will not meet up over Christmas. I’m praying for warmish weather so we can meet in a park and keep our distance in the open air.

Tbh if it's getting bad , I see don't see how they can be thinking wait until after Christmas . Without wanting to be a party pooper , if it's bad , do it now .

The number of deaths from covid has and will be awful, including my mil. But what affects the NHS is the number of cases, and this new variant is on a step climb, we should be under tougher restrictions now. Do the maths, it doubles every 2 - 3 days. But the origanal question was about canceling Christmas, covid 19, in all its forms, is clearly a bigger problem in the winter. So may be we need to think about different ways to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Just for the record my family has a lot to miss at this time of year including birthdays, and we all live in different parts of the country. Our plan is smaller, household celebrating, and a big get together in the summer.

pascal30

Beware all.. I have had all my jabs and the flu jab and yet,after a trip to London last week to the RA and all masked up, I now have covid and it is horrible. not life threatening but very unpleasant..

So sorry to hear this. Hope you soon feel better.

I don't think that there'll be a lockdown as before, involving the closure of businesses etc, as the government have now withdrawn all financial support and can't afford to reintroduce it.

I refuse to cancel christmas again all my family have been jabbed followed the rules face marks etc. And as for Whitty and Valance the voices of doom and gloom, don't believe those guys either all they dish out are charts and data. Flu changes every year, yet we don't get locked down. Keep them scared and they'll do what we say. Are we really going to trust a government who do what they want, yet the rest of us obey the rules. Well sorry no more have had enough, one rule for them and one rule for us.

366 people out of a population of approx 56 million people is not so many. Keep it in proportion please.

I think one of the first things they need to do is stop large crowd gatherings like football matches music concerts etc , obviously that is going to be more dangerous than meeting some of your family that have all been tested and vaccinated

The govt held several parties during lockdown. We know this. The point is, not that they’re all total hypocrites & liars, it’s that they clearly don’t believe this virus is a danger to all or they would be cowering inside terrified to pass it to their vulnerable relatives.

This government has been told they are grossly over exaggerating by the person who found this variant in S Africa. It’s no worse than a cold.
Stop panicking!

I know that there are many families like ours looking forward to children and grandchildren who live abroad coming here for Christmas and New Year. Flights, tests, etc all booked.

We don't want to go another year without seeing each other.

There is a huge amount of anxiety about arrangements having to be cancelled, or difficulties in returning without having to go into quarantine.

We must all do our best to avoid unnecessary risks, whether we've been jabbed or not.

Time for us all to take responsibility for ourselves by being sensible and not relying on anyone else to decide what we should or shouldn’t do!

The sensible thing irrespective of which country we live in would be to enforce a lockdown before Christmas, but I agree that it is not likely to happen.

Most governments seem rather more concerned with the effect a new lockdown would have on businesses, especially shops and restaurants, so half-hearted measures are being enforced.

Schools breaking up the day after tomorrow instead of on the 22nd, no alcohol to be sold in pubs or restaurants after midnight, no audiences of more than 50 people, masks worn on public transport, but "people should make their own minds up regarding private parties".

Well, we know what that means don't we?

Reckon it will start on Monday January 3rd. Schools to stay shut for an extra couple of weeks, people "advised" to stay in their own county and avoid unnecessary gatherings, e.g. leisure activities, classes etc.

Casdon - Michael Gove always looks worried.

Do we really have to be told to be careful over Christmas? Anyone with any sense will be careful about numbers they meet up with. They will insist that people take a test as well. I expect most will just carry on regardless though then complain because tougher restrictions are brought in. We will have a wave of complaints on here...there always is.

I assumed most sensible people would do regular LF tests before meeting or going out in crowded places, and would take appropriate precautions without the so called Government telling them.
However some of my friends whom I consider intelligent I’ve discovered never do them at all!
I’ve just seen that the first person with Omicron has died in hospital, but no details.