Travelling to family for Christmas?

Family asked me what I had arranged for Christmas day and told them that being extremely vulnerable we would be staying at home and not entertaining others. Probably not what they wanted to hear as in-laws of DS were celebrating together and were just not going to mix with others for a few days before they travelled from one part of the UK to another county in another tier

We had arranged to meet with our sons and families over the Christmas period. But since we were placed in T3, that became impossible, so we've decided to have a celebration get together when we've all been vaccinated. That looks like being Easter.

As for Christmas, there's always Zoom and Facetime. We just wouldn't take the risk.

I would not travel and our intention is to see our local family only, hopefully outside for a walk. I think the long partings have caused a longing and kind of grief and this accounts for the desire to actually see the faces of the people we love and feel some normality but it is of course a huge risk this year.

Stay home. You don't want to be part of the rise in cases after Christmas. There will be plenty of time to see family once vaccinated.

That would be a no from me.
I'd rather go a year without seeing my dc/ dgc for a year or so than not see them because one of us has passed it on and they died of were left with long covid / other issues.

It’s been a no-brainer in our extended family. We all live in different parts of the UK and my parents and father-in-law all decided early on that they were staying put in their own homes for Christmas. They are in excellent health and don’t want to jeopardise that. Having not stayed anywhere else since March I think staying away anywhere now, even with family, would actually prove hugely stressful for them anyway. They are making plans accordingly and the different families involved all have nice things built in over Christmas that includes them on a virtual basis. My father-in-law is in Liverpool and is getting his first vaccine tomorrow. We are hopeful things will gradually ease in 2021 and we will have a spring or summer ‘Christmas’ if and when it’s safe but not until. It helped us adult children a lot that they were clear in own their separate decisions and comfortable with it so there were no awkward conversations to be had or dithering. I’d recommend making the decision not to go, plan a lovely day for yourselves and give them a clear message with lots of reassurance that you feel happier with this decision. You’ll enjoy seeing them more in due course without the surrounding worries.

I am in exactly the same position as you Mirren desperate to see my family, arrangements have been made but now things are worsening again. You’re an intelligent person and will make the right choice for you as will I even though it will cause much angst to reach a decision.Not everyone is able to make a completely non emotional decision about this although the bias on this site seems to be very pro staying at home. We all have a number of variables to consider, our age, our health, the tiers we live in and those of the areas we intend travelling to, the lifestyles of those we would like to visit. There is no one size fits all. Don’t be swayed by others, do what’s best for you and have a fabulous Christmas whatever you decide x

My DD and SiL are hoping to come for Christmas - no children just a dog and they are self isolating before they come so if the government allows I shall feel quite safe.

Is it possible for you all to self isolate for 7-10 days prior to visiting?

As a GP I think you know the answer even though as a grandparent you’d rather not hear it!

We were having the family to stay but that’s not happening now. OH really doesn’t want to be infected just as we’re in sight of the vaccine - we are both in group 5. So on Christmas Eve my son and I will drive up to Kew from Oxfordshire with presents and a packed lunch. We can sit in the communal gardens where elder son, partner and my granddaughter live (hope it’s not raining) and eat our lunch and exchange presents. Our daughter will come from Brixton to Kew and swop presents too. She will then go and stay at one of the Hilton hotels in London for two nights. She recently split from her partner of 7 years and would love to come home, but OH won’t allow it. So after our lunch and a slice of chocolate cake (which I am taking with me) other son and I will drive home and have a peaceful Christmas interspersed with Zoom, I imagine!

Rates are rising rapidly here in all parts of Berkshire , including the west which has always been low .

Please don’t come until next year when hopefully we can all travel safely to see our loved ones .

I would not go in your position.

None of my family will be visiting me.

quizqueen I understand they think the vaccine will still be effective against the mutated strain of the virus.

Sodapop is absolutely correct.
The government nonsense about 3 families over 5 days was always exactly that, nonsense. The same government is insisting schools stay open, thus ensuring that not a family in the land could isolate for two weeks before older relatives join them.
My friends who are GPs or nurses are all united in saying stay home, stay safe, see family outside if you live close enough to do that, otherwise was till May or June.

What's the point of the vaccine if the disease is mutating! Strange that the Chinese people seem to be behaving normally now after we were shown some just dropping dead in the street back in March!!

When the rest of the world can't seem to get rid of covid, there are far too many questions to be answered.

As a practicing GP, I wouldn't want you to visit me. I consider that high risk for exposure. If you don't think it's safe, don't go and let them know why. If you think it is safe, ask the family you will be visiting if they are comfortable with you visiting or would rather you didn't. If just one party is uncomfortable, the visit doesn't happen.

If you have to ask then I think you know what you should do.
Many families ( including ours) have had to decide on a different Christmas this year.
Sad but even sadder if the worst happened and we felt we could have avoided it.

Listen to your peers, you know really the sensible thing to do surely?

With due respect, why are you asking on here? You are a GP, you’ve read guidance, as with all of us, you assess your personal and others risk, then decide.

sodapop

I really can't understand this obsession with Christmas family gatherings given the current circumstances. A lot of us have not seen any of our families for well over a year and in some cases a lot more.
If you have to come on here and ask the question then that should tell you something. I'm really losing patience with it all now.

Well said sodapop!

In light of the virus mutating, no one knowing for sure that they are not a carrier and the fact that cases and deaths are rising the wisest choice would be to stay at home!

Don't go. It's really not worth risking it with the vaccine already over the horizon. Re motorway loos, they may be clean but remember you have to park next to someone and then you must walk through the horrible food hall to reach the loos. No, not worth it.

I really can't understand this obsession with Christmas family gatherings given the current circumstances. A lot of us have not seen any of our families for well over a year and in some cases a lot more.
If you have to come on here and ask the question then that should tell you something. I'm really losing patience with it all now.

The BMJ have something to say in the matter today, maybe that could help you decide?