Omicron Christmas

Daughter very ill with Omicron variant and I am now unsure who we will be able to see - they had all planned to come to us. But things change so swiftly and as the R number is now between 3 and 5 I am sure we all have to be very cautious. We don't want an apparently happy Christmas to be followed by someone old/vulnerable getting very ill.

We are all testing before we gather for lunch

Just forging ahead with my current plans on a day to day basis. So far everything gone to plan and enjoyed although six people did. back out of one function.

Both had 3 jabs …. daughter had 2…. Son in law had 2….14 yr old grandson had 1 jab…. 9 yr old granddaughter none….. then after this we ALL got Covid! So NO we won’t be changing our plans. Not this time Boris!! Not falling for that again.

Intend to have DD and husband over on Christmas Day, they are WFH and will test before the arrive. That's the plan although I am quite prepared that it may be just the two of us. Again.

We hope we won't need to change our plans. One branch of the family (2 AC and 4 GC) is spending 5 days with us over Christmas. Another 2 AC and 3 GC are joining us for a few hours on Boxing Day. After they have left our other son and his family (2 AC and 3 GC) will visit for a few days early in January. We will all be testing prior to meeting and while they're here.

DH and I are double jabbed and boosted. I'm in the 'extremely vulnerable category. We only go out if we really have to, we're ardent mask wearers, and we don't socialise with friends or neighbours. I think we're doing as much as we can to protect ourselves and our families. So now we'll just keep our fingers crossed. If our plans have to change, so be it, we'll just have to go with the flow.

So far we’ll still be going to dd’s, but we’re triple jabbed and not in an extra vulnerable category. There are 3 young Gdcs but dd does test them regularly, and will do so again on Christmas Eve.

A sister and BiL (who is CEV) have altered plans in order to avoid the extra guests at their son’s house. Now staying Christmas Eve night, seeing the family in the morning, but departing before the hordes arrive. Very sensible IMO.

So many cases of people going to social events, doing a LFT beforehand but than many of the people at the event coming down with covid. It’s very worrying.

We were going to just make sure we tested, but now getting the tests has become difficult, I’m not sure. I’ve had to give a couple to one of my daughters, who can’t get any, so we’re left with five between two of us.

Not changing plans. Decided with family weeks ago not to mix as DH is undergoing palliative care for cancer. LfTs are useful but not 100% accurate hence our family decision.

No, not changing my plans. We are as protected as we will ever be, i am the oldest and most at risk because of serious health issues. It may be my last Christmas so am going to be with family. I felt more ill after the booster than when i had covid so am not sitting at home alone!

As I live alone, except for my 2 dogs and 2 cats, in an isolated area I have stocked my freezer and cupboards with what Christmas food - and for a month - I will need. I could visit my very small family of daughter and granddaughter, but, as they are mingling with large numbers of people, have decided I will continue to isolate. Luckily I enjoy the company of my pets, the wild life and the peace of the nature around me. I will have phone calls from family and friends near and far so won't feel cut off.

I'm with Sparklefizz. We're going to wait until next week and see. Both sets of GSs have had false positives several times in the past so DsIL not absolutely convinced of the tests' worth. Fortunately we all live very close to each other so no travel to be planned for. Wait and see is the plan.

britgran* like you my DH has health issues and we’re both fully jabbed, but Christmas visitors are a concern. Obviously under normal conditions we’d love to see them. One is very conscientious and so likely to ask if we want to cancel, won’t take offence. The other will be staying at another family home where 6 households will be gathering, and will assume that it’s fine to visit. Flow tests will be taken by everyone but how long does it take to show infection and how reliable are the tests? We may get by , if weather allows, to meet them for a Christmas walk outside. We’re making decisions nearer the time but secretly hoping they offer to cancel their visits. It’s just a day, but very special for the GC. I’d prefer to err on the side of caution, we don’t know enough about Omicron yet. The other day my friend’s father had a fall, was taken to hospital and was waiting for 8 hrs in the ambulance before being admitted. Everyone needs to stay as healthy and safe as they can at the moment.

We are vulnerable, jabbed and boosted but planning on having our AC and GC visit over Xmas if none of them or us are unwell. We are all doing LFT and will ensure adequate ventilation but don’t want to have another Xmas without them after last year.

We are being very cautious and staying at home - no visitors. The new variant is obviously very infectious and I listen to Prof. Whitty rather than Johnson and his backbench oafs. Speak for England, North Shropshire!

Just my sis & I at Xmas so no worries there. I'm more worried about my hospital appointment getting cancelled on 23rd, have waited on this urgent one for 8 weeks and praying it goes ahead.

We have DD and two GC’s coming Christmas Eve for 24 hours, they do ltf’s three times a week, we do twice a week. None of us have used public transport, been to any cinema’s, theatres, large shops or similar at all.
We visit our local, small pub once or twice a week, doors open, a dozen people we know, we’re all double/triple vaxed, tables are well spaced. The only case was the landlady earlier this year, pub was closed and deep cleaned.
We’ve done our best, so plans aren’t changing.

We had already made a decision months ago to not meet in crowded areas large or small despite being mask wearers. I used to have open house all day on Christmas eve lots of coming and going and children running around. Obviously couldn't last year and this year decided not too. Even before Omicron. Just feels sensible to limit social interactions and to be honest thats what we have done. Meeting now in smaller groups, meals out rare, lunchtimes and quieter venues. No theatre or cinema visits, leave shops if they feel uncomfortably busy and actually enjoying our calmer lifestyles. I get tired of people who blame the government. This is a pandemic after all.

I guess all this we have to come. Most here are having a ‘normal’ Christmas but this thing is looming up on us. Today 100 of us got together for a Christmas function and we all had the attitude of making the most of it. After what we’ve been through over the last 2 years of Miserable Melbourne we are just grateful for a short respite.

We talked this morning and decided the risk is too great as things stand at present and arrangements for food etc can’t be changed at the last minute. And I have asthma which ain’t getting any better. So another Christmas just the two of us and we are very lucky not to be alone like so many. Hoping for a little Xmas celebration later in January after much isolating and testing but who knows?

Germanshepherdsmum

What worries me is people who have been mixing with others on Xmas day and before, then coming to us Boxing Day. I'm not sure a LFT done Boxing Day morning would show anything picked up the previous day?

GerManshepfard mom : My concern too , I’ve been told by a Dr .everyone should test daily if they’ll be staying for a few days the test gives an 6- 8 hour picture of “being not contagious”but you can show a positive days after your exposure .. So if anyone is ummunocomptomised wear masks indoors and spread out for meals

I visited a DS and DGC for 3 hours last month. DGC was ill with GP phone diagnosed tonsillitis. They came into the kitchen for a drink and went back to bed.
PCR test was positive as DIL tested them just incase. My OH, myself DIL and DS didn't catch it. This was probably delta varient though. Maybe the cough we all had a few weeks before was Covid but nobody had a temperature or any of the other symptoms

Sadly I'll miss Ruby who'll be joining the gang over Christmas but there again, she's travelling down from Durham so really unwise for me.
I have all their presents here which D will pick up on Christmas Eve as happened last year.

Staying put with my cats. I can't bring myself to suddenly be confronted in a house full of kids, harsh as it sounds, they're my GGC but varying schools etc plenty of germs lurking so why undo the wellness I've felt during this year for the sake of one day-----then worrying for the following days ? No thanks.

I'd be foolish to say the least to throw caution to the wind.
I've got enough food here to choke a goat so I won't starve.