Still mixing?

GrannyRose15, wrong, wrong and wrong again. Your comments are a perfect illustration of the rarity of true 'common sense'.

'protecting the vulnerable as best we could and allowing them some self determination' - would be just like throwing them to the wolves!

We're still in the middle of a deadly pandemic, trying to minimise loss of life. Carrying on regardless is insane.

Daisymae

We are now tier 4, but a lot of people in this area had a family Christmas. Meanwhile hospitals have been told to clear beds for an expected increase in demand.

The next thing people will be complaining that routine cancer and heart ops have been cancelled/postponed and using that to support the idea of ignoring lockdowns and restrictions. It really isn't rocket science that transmission must be suppressed. With a real concerted effort, it could even be almost eradicated.

We stayed home alone - we have had mass testing in our area as the infection rate has been so high. Not much on tv about the age group with the most infections - I believe it’s younger people this time, probably schools etc. Anyway hope not too many people broke the rules although I suspect with the number of cars coming and going from next door they have completely ignored the fact that we are in tier 4. I can’t get annoyed anymore, we have to all do the very best we can.

We are now tier 4, but a lot of people in this area had a family Christmas. Meanwhile hospitals have been told to clear beds for an expected increase in demand.

I live in an area which has just jumped from Tier 2 to Tier 4. The number of cases just a week ago was much lower than the national average, but now the increase is exponential and is doubling every two or three days. We now have more than double the number of active cases per 100,000 that Liverpool and Manchester have.

I belong to local Facebook groups and it's easy to see why. Apart from a handful of vocal "Covid deniers", there are people who have become complacent and/or don't seem to have a clue what any of the rules are. They've got used to doing their own thing as they see fit, even though it's obvious to others they're taking risks other wouldn't. In the last week of school, infection was rife in schools and is now doing the rounds of pupils' families, extended families and friendship groups. It only took one "seed" and whole families have been affected. The hospitals are at bursting point and staff within them are saying they're exhausted. The situation here is worse than it was in March/April.

Even now, there don't seem to be any warnings or announcements in the local press. People are still planning "days out" and asking for advice about getting round the rules. I really despair!

The problem is that government advice is so confusing, poorly worded and instantly contradicted (by themselves).

I think it is quite remarkable how observant of the rules most people are, given that those who make them (and constantly change them) continually give the impression that they could not be trusted to organise the proverbial p*ss *p in a brewery.

Yes Welbeck that may explain it but I think the problem is that most people haven't read that and are taking advice from Facebook experts.

No, just us, but at some point on or before the 6th January we’ll be making an illegal trip just to drop off youngest Gdc’s first birthday present, and have a very few minutes of socially distanced chat in the front garden.
Same as I did pre Christmas for the presents - NB I didn’t even go in for a wee, having strictly limited my coffee beforehand on purpose.
If anyone wants to have a go at me for that, feel free, but I’ll be going anyway.

My bubble is spending the whole of the Christmas period with me. She lives alone, works from home and has not been socialising and has already been here a week without either of us going down with COVID.

kircubbin2000

After some pressure we did decide to get together 4 adults 1 child. After a while we relaxed,masks came off and voices were raised (deaf grandad). We had a nice time so hope all will be well.
Great confusion in N I as we start a weeks curfew 8 till 6am. Can I walk my dog at night? Can kids still play in the garden? Can I drive to the garage? The whole things a shambles when you see how many people cannot read and understand the rules.

www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-what-restrictions-mean-you

this seems to explain it quite well.

MayBee70

Good grief.....this is what we’re up against.....

Exactly! That's why restrictions don't work. There's no cure for stupid.

PS. Children have been spreading disease.

In answer to the OP, absolutely YES!

Good grief.....this is what we’re up against.....

Mawbe and ginny.

Common sense is exactly what has been lacking for the last 10 months. No one with common sense would have closed down the economy in the way it has been. Common sense would have told us to Keep Calm and Carry On while protecting the vulnerable as best we could and allowing them some self determination. Common sense would not have closed schools after it was known that children weren't spreading the disease. Common sense wouldn't have turned the NHS into a single disease service. Common sense wouldn't have let elderly people exist ( I won't say live) without contact with their relatives for months on end.
Common sense wouldn't have cancelled Christmas for millions. What we need is a sense of perspective.

After some pressure we did decide to get together 4 adults 1 child. After a while we relaxed,masks came off and voices were raised (deaf grandad). We had a nice time so hope all will be well.
Great confusion in N I as we start a weeks curfew 8 till 6am. Can I walk my dog at night? Can kids still play in the garden? Can I drive to the garage? The whole things a shambles when you see how many people cannot read and understand the rules.

We live in Kent on the coast, Tier 4, many of our immediate neighbours, and those on the local streets are pensioners. Our dog needs walking every day so off we went, it's unbelievable just how many have 4 or 5 cars all of a sudden. Even those who we know to only have 1!

Extended families are out walking together, which is lovely and probably safe but I think it's probably safe to say that few people kept to the rules yesterday or today. Sad but not a surprise!

We went for a walk on the beach today and there was what appeared to be a dog walking group just setting off for a walk.ok it was outside but there were a lot of them.

We are not meeting up with family members this Christmas.

A house opposite me had 4 families mixing Christmas Day and now today, when we are in strict no mixing inside or out in N Ireland, family have arrived again. What is wrong with people, they just don't care at all. Its so disrespectful to the rest of us who are abiding by the rules and of course to the NHS and people who have lost loved ones to Covid.

We are in Tier 4 but even before that we had decided to stay home just the 2 of us on Christmas Day. My mother is 97 and had been invited to my sons for the day and until the last minute she had planned to go there as she can bubble up with them. However she decided to stay at home and they took a meal round to her, which considering she has just had her first dose of the vaccine I think was probably a good move.
Have to say, much as I was dreading being on our own, we had a nice relaxing day. Took our dog out twice round the local park and had a lovely Christmas Dinner and it was nice to be able to do things when we wanted and sit and relax.
We did facetime with my son and his family in the evening which was nice and hope that next year we can all actually spend the day together!

biba70

Same parents have been putting huge pressure, emotional blackmail, ah well might as well put an end to this... etc on youngsters travelling long distance to visit. Sorry, but makes me cross, when so many of us have not seen family for soooo long and trying to do the right thing always.

Actually it works the other way too
All my children and grandchildren took Covid tests this week in an attempt to avoid my being alone on Christmas Day after eldest DGS in whose support bubble I have been, tested positive last weekend thereby putting paid to spending Christmas with them.
Of course they understood and accepted my “Thanks but no thanks “ but it was a kind gesture especially as the full test is not particularly pleasant especially for little ones (8,6,4, and 20 months)
I can’t understand why any grandparent would want to put the responsibility for infecting the grandparents on to their children, can you?

Same parents have been putting huge pressure, emotional blackmail, ah well might as well put an end to this... etc on youngsters travelling long distance to visit. Sorry, but makes me cross, when so many of us have not seen family for soooo long and trying to do the right thing always.

Humberbert - yes you can say that. I feel slightly niggled too, some nearby people have had relatives over for days.

Can I just say that it is galling to hear the grandchildren playing next door? They stayed overnight. Our’s delivered presents and stood at the bottom of the drive shouting up at us. We have told my sister she cannot come and visit.

Visiting local dd1 and dgd outdoors in their gazebo- no sides but has a heater! I’m wrapping up warmly and taking a fleece throw??
Family What’sApp call on Portal at 12
Merry Christmas everyone!