Do you want Christmas to involve big family gatherings this year?

Polls

2nd December 2020

HOW merry should Christmas be? That’s the dilemma facing many families, as scientists recommend that we should have our celebrations online or outside this year.

After a miserable year, many people are clearly looking forward to getting together with their families at Christmas. However, with vaccinations against COVID-19 possibly starting as soon as this week, lots of people would rather hold on for a bit longer and skip the large gatherings this year, to avoid passing the virus around even further.

All four UK nations have agreed the rules for this Christmas, which allow three households to form a ‘Christmas bubble’. People can also travel between all parts of the UK to form these bubbles, but only between 23-27 December (or 22-28 for anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland).

But even though this is allowed, the four UK Governments are encouraging people to think of other ways to celebrate, either online or outside. “The more people you see, the more likely it is

that you will catch or spread COVID-19,” they say. “You can spread coronavirus to others even if you and the people you meet have no symptoms.”

The scientific advice to the Governments has been very clear. The SAGE advisory committee said that it is “highly likely that an increase” in infections will occur over Christmas if people travel around to meet family, and that this will “lead to a rise in hospital admissions and deaths”.

Up to 50% of people in one household can become infected if just one person in the home has COVID-19, and SAGE says that “people should understand that there is risk in visiting their older loved ones”. Similar viruses, such as those that cause colds and flu, have shown in previous years that older people are at increased risk over Christmas.

SAGE also said that even if adults are happy to accept restrictions, they may not want to do anything that will upset their kids, so you should get involved at home and school to help come up with a safe plan for this Christmas.

Do you want Christmas to involve big family gatherings this year?

26 Comments

Leave a Reply

opalstar · 4 years ago

I do want to, but I think that with the impact of Coronavirus the UK is not ready yet.

ivansp2011 · 4 years ago

I don't think so beacau covid will spread really quickly if anyone from any other households have covid

piggy9876 · 4 years ago

No I don't want to because it could effect my grandparents and I would hate that. I wouldn't mind if the gathering was small, safe and outdoors though.

v_venkie · 4 years ago

I would love a family/friends gathering but because of COVID, I think it is unsafe. This is because England is already in lockdown and if people meet together again, the number of cases will rise. I would recommend people to communicate with each other online rather than physically talking face-to-face. I would encourage people who go out with their friends will:
Bring their sanitiser and sanitise once every hour.
Wear a face mask( unless they're drinking or eating)
Maintain at least 1m distance. It would be even better if they maintain 2m distance.
If indoor, give them tea in disposable cutlery.
Bring a napkin to blow your nose.
Finally, keep their house ventilated by opening windows.
If we follow these steps, then we are less likely to spread COVID or catch COVID.

bobstr · 4 years ago

In my opinion, the mental health implications outweigh the risk of coronavirus; but obviously families should try to socially distance as much as possible, and perhaps meet outside.

lollipop33 · 4 years ago

No, it is not safe in 2020. It might be nice to have a big family gathering, but coronavirus can kill, and this is concerned with people's lives.

ivansp2011 · 4 years ago

so yas

opalstar · 4 years ago

I don't agree as if different households are mixing we could spread coronavirus, it's too early still. I would hate to infect elderly people. If we mix we could carry it to people over fifty or those who are terminally ill, I don't want to do that. I think that inside we all want to celebrate the festivities of Christmas face to face but it's still not possible. This whole thing, if someone told you a year a go it would happen you'd have told them it was crazy. Well it is crazy but we all are suffering from these difficult times, you can't flee to a country, it's everywhere, you can't run your hand along a barrier on a bus safely. We're all in this together. Even with the new vaccine becoming available more widely it still isn't safe. Maybe next Christmas we can enjoy it together, patience is key. Everyone plays a part, NHS staff, receptionists, cleaners, farmers, teachers, bin men or women , post men or women,
Much more, non essential shops are also helping by being safe.

We can do this.

Hope is still the light at the end of the tunnel, through wars and infections, diseases and more wars, however long it takes, there's still a bright light even though maybe, sometimes it's so blinding you can't see it.

Hope.

crystallv · 4 years ago

Opalstar I totally full hands 🙌 agree with you what wise words 💯 percent

akira · 4 years ago

Nope. You don’t want your granny to catch COVID-19.

katkid10 · 4 years ago

I want to - obviously - but I know that it would be better not to as all our Grandparents are about 90.

panda89 · 4 years ago

is adt yes but i think everybody should be very careful especially is u r in a tier 3 situation (like me😢😢😢)
However christmas would not be christmas without family so maybe this year we need to take a bit of risk to save people from being really sad. Mental health is more important than Covid-19

ramsay · 4 years ago

It just depends ,of course I would love to see my family but it's best to not see our family right now during the pandemic
You can still have a merry Christmas 🎄
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone ❤️💛💚💙💜😍🎅🏻🎅🏻🤶🏻🤶🏻

ilovepanda · 4 years ago

Of course I do, I love seeing all the family, but I don’t think we will invite many people over this year

storerd · 4 years ago

i do but covid-19

freya2909 · 4 years ago

i would say yes but i want everyone to be safe

stargrl · 4 years ago

I really want to but its not safe.

candyflos · 4 years ago

I do want to but I don’t think it should as I would hate to put my grandparents at risk and in my opinion I’d rather be safe than sorry. Also I don’t want to help the spread of the virus so to help the NHS- stag at home. 🏳️‍🌈

opalbarnet · 4 years ago

i do not think it is safe enough to gather yet so i said no

notsniw · 4 years ago

Yes but no but yes but no but yes but no but yes but no but yes but no but yes but no

notsniw · 4 years ago

Because it covid 19

sushirat1 · 4 years ago

Yes if you can do it while social distancing and not spreading any germs! It’s Christmas 🎄 everybody!!!
You have to see family!

luigi55 · 4 years ago

I have not seen my family in real life for a month or two

spookyboot · 4 years ago

i clicked no cos i dont want corona but i do rlly want it its just it cant happen😥🤒🤕😷🤧

ihorsman · 3 years ago

i love having a bid christmas with family

mwhitty · 3 years ago

As long as they have a covid test first and after