So, who is going out in the run up to the 25th. ?

Just a small family meeting to exchange gifts on Sunday and all will do LFTs before going. I have done all except food shopping on line, and tested each time I have gone out for the 1 meeting I have done this month for coffee with my sisters and to an open air event at start of the month. My husband won't be going to the present exchange I'm afraid he has become frightened of life in case it kills him, frightened to go out and very adverse to me going through the front door for anything. I have to take the car for MOT on Monday, and I suspect he will be worried about that. This blasted virus has a lot to answer for.

My DH and I have cancelled everything until Christmas Eve when we are due to go to our daughter’s to stay. It will be our first Christmas with our GC born in 2020. We are prepared to do what it takes to make sure we can do this and will all take lateral flow tests before we go. Our DD and SIL have also cancelled all other plans in the run up to Christmas.

We were going to DD and partner in their new home for Christmas 250 miles away but she tested positive for omicron yesterday so all off. Staring at sad pile of presents in the corner. But we had started to wonder if wise anyway, as had she. Commuting by overground and tube and working in a university, it was only a matter of time before she got it. Booster was booked for tomorrow. So far, is no iller than a “normal” cold, mercifully.

i've not cancelled anything and i'm not going to either.
two christmas lunches done and they were both in busy restaurants.
i've got a coffee morning on tuesday and possibly another meet up on thursday.
friday - christmas eve - i've got a visit to the nail bar, a visit to the haurdresser and the supermarket. and that's probably it.

Am seeing my ds and dgd, next week, instead of staying for a week as planned, it will be 1 overnight stay, and we're geting together as he's in the army and I haven't seen him for months, my DD who's was going to be here for new year we cancelled, we live in different parts of the country.

No plans to go out but we never do Christmas parties and stuff like that anyway as I can't stand being around grabby drunks. We like hibernating at home, just the 3 of us. I've been out this morning & finished the last food shop locally and will only have to go out once next week for fresh milk, cream, fruit and any bits I've forgotten/eaten already ??

I felt I'd won the lottery this morning as I picked up a box of lateral flow tests from the local pharmacy - I'm working a couple of shifts in the community shop before my daughters are here, so will be frantically testing so as not to hurt them!

I didn’t have a busy social diary in the run up to Christmas anyway but we’re going to see our grandchildren on Monday and staying in a B&B on Monday night. It’s 5 hours driving there and back if doing it in a day so easiest to stay over.

We are not going anywhere until the 23rd when we drive to Cornwall to stay with my DS and family for 4 days. We will LFT on the night of 22nd - I have only seen my DGS and DGD twice in the last year and am determined to keep safe so that I can spend some time with them at last!
We are getting married late January so will be isolating after Christmas too - who wants to catch this horrid virus anyway.

I have a terminal lung disease amongst other things so I'm staying home until the 24th. I will then be cautiously mixing with a small number of family members until the 26th.
I think everyone needs to be very cautious, especially older people and those with underlying conditions.
Professor Chris Witty has said words to the effect of the rapid rise of Omicron will lead to a rapid spike and rapid decline. Fingers crossed.

I am amazed at how many people intend to carry on socialising. According to the Zoe Covid Study, symptoms of Omicron are more akin to those of a bad cold, which is reassuring. However, as daily infection rates indicate, we are on the upward curve of a huge spike in cases. Chris Whitty emphasised that a small proportion of a large number means that many people will suffer more serious symptoms.

I do not want to risk infecting friends or anyone else who might fall into the latter category nor do I personally want to risk serious illness.Above all, I don't want to add to the burden of those wonderful people working in the NHS!

Me! I went out with three friends last night for a meal at a chain restaurant, where there was good spacing of tables and mask wearing by staff etc. Felt very safe. Am meeting two other friends for lunch today and will be sensible! Life has to go on (I am LFT three times a week and PCR once a week. Triple jabbed)

Hermit mode here too. Online food deliveries. Visits cancelled/postponed.
Survived too long to succumb at this stage. That dratted virus ain’t getting me again!

I see that a lot of you are doing LFTs before going out. No guarantee they'll indemnify you from Covid of course. What will you do if they're positive? That's what happened to us. Didn't occur to us somehow that we might get positive results. Be prepared for very short notice cancellation of all planned activities for 10 days.

Me ! I’m just about to go on a pre planned hotel weekend in London ! Am double jabbed and had booster and flu jab, will be “double” masked and avoiding crowds Have lots of hand sanitiser and most excursions are outside Going with just my husband who is also double jabbed, boostered and flu jabbed Have dithered and wondered about cancelling but we need some sort of life

Going to a hotel for a 3 night break from Christmas Eve. Just the two of us and travelling there by train. We wear masks, wash hands or use sanitiser. Both vaccinated and had boosters. I refuse to curtail what’s left of my life because of the idiotic anti vaxxers. Already had holidays cancelled and getting mighty fed up with all of it. It’s about time we all took some responsibility for our own safety and stopped relying on the government to tell us what to do. Merry Christmas everyone.

We have cancelled outings in the run up to Christmas - not because we are afraid of getting the virus ( all fully vaccinated apart from the two little DGDs), but because we don’t want to be isolating on the big day if we do catch it. My brother died a week ago and my sister hopes to come after Christmas for a few days. I am desperate to see her so we have sadly battened down the hatches. Didn’t really want to go out anyway?

Have cancelled taking my Mum and friend, both in their late 80's, to Carol Concert at Church on Sunday.

Noname PCR tests are supposed to be for those with symptoms, positive lft or if notified by T&T I thought?

I have never been as concerned as i am now about what this government is getting away with! We are testing people for what is now the common cold, ARE WE MAD?! levels are going to be through the roof, its respiratory season, and we have all been locked away for a year making us more susceptable to illness!! WAKE UP ITS THE SNIFFLES!!!!

There is not a rule that says “stay at home, no going out” If there was I wouldn’t dream of going out I’ve been working from home for over a year and my husband is retired, HOWEVER we have 4 others living with us (family) two are primary school teachers, one is a front facing public sector worker and the other a receptionist in a palates studio !

Usernametaken Sorry but your comments are so out of order - when did you last hear about 150,000 dying in 18 months from the common cold ? Please do not start on about from and with covid either ! I have three friends who’ve lost loved ones and close family in the NHS ! I find your comments so disrespectful on many levels !

Yes, hermit here, only shopping for essentials and then only if the shops are very quiet when we walk past with the dog...

I'm indoors, waiting for the PCR test to arrive because my doctor says that the home kits are not so accurate. Ordered one yesterday but I know the local sorting office is way behind. One restaurant near me is doing a collection service on Christmas Day - think that would be a great solution for lots of us!

Sadly some of us don’t have any option and have to go out, I ve still got 4 shifts to do at the local vaccination centre which I ll be doing happily but will keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t test positive before Christmas as I d just love to be able to go out with my family for the first time ever for Christmas dinner