Looks like Even More Restrictions Being Announced at 4pm !
In the News
I read the figures , take note of the "mood music " and body language , listen to the scientists . This epidemic is getting much more than serious .
A new strain perhaps , students returning from University and an already ballooning rate is projected to be increasing to an uncontrollable level .
A new lockdown is on the cards , perhaps even before Christmas and certainly soon after .
Now more than ever is the time to be ultra cautious , obey the rules even go beyond them . Treat everyone as a carrier and keep your distance in all settings .
Trust me this is very very serious , we have to keep it at bay until the vaccinations start making a difference in 3 months or so .
Have a safe Christmas and remember you will be infected by others showing no symptoms .
Yes, it is foolish that this incompetent government decided to ease vital restrictions during this killer pandemic. If people do not keep distant over this "festive period", countless more people will suffer from COVID and tragically die. Our NHS will be really overwhelmed. There are many other countries which have rightly not eased restrictions just for festivities. When vaccines are fully rolled out (which should not be too far off), we can start to get closer again. We all need to control ourselves and keep each other safe at this time.
I agree but your comment about the government is far too harsh. What would you do to control the virus and try to keep the economy chugging along (even in dead slow mode).
Governments all over the world of all political hues are struggling and failing to control this virus . Its not the government . We have to admit it's us the population that is facilitating the spread by our refusal to stick by the rules .
Trouble is the Governments all over the world are telling their populations how many sacrifices they are making and how they are obeying the rules . They're politicians they have to keep complimenting their populations (part of the job !) I'm sure they tear their hair out when they see persistent breeches of the regulations every single day .
Maybe even our most arrogant , know it all , thinking themselves indestructible parts of the population will at long last realise the gravity of the situation and finally observe the rules .
Please don't turn this POLITICAL (blaming government) politics aren't supposed to be allowed on this forum.
davidstockport Exactly its totally non political but sadly the usual suspects can't resist having a dig. Shameful .
Living in tier 3 already feels like another lockdown. Even if they implement a Christmas lockdown everyone knows a very large number of people would simply ignore the restrictions. Plus, how successful would another lockdown be if schools, colleges and universities remain open in January.
Just been catching up with this in the news. I'm not surprised, I've been reading about this new strain and thought changes might be made. They've announced the new restrictions now, but I wonder how many people are actually going to change their plans as a result.
Some people will never change their plans, although some of them might wish they had if they find themselves struggling for breath or attending the funerals of others who probably think a pandemic is a faulty cooking utensil.
We will be in Tier 4 come midnight.
Won't feel too much different tbh as we already decided it was just going to be our household for Christmas.
And we have most of the shopping we need and a click and collect booked for Tesco for Wednesday.
I feel for people who may have to spend Christmas alone and lonely.
To be honest I did feel a 5 day 'hall pass' was too much and I felt it should be only two households mixing, but because people have been so lax we are now ALL suffering the consequences. I don't regard myself as a special case but for those of us spending Christmas totally alone now it will be a dismal day. Especially as I have spent the last two weeks being extra careful and vigilant and was only going to my son where there would have been just two households (mine and theirs) mixing and a total of 4 people from Xmas Eve until Boxing Day. I am very tempted to still go.
Ann1984 Just because people are allowed certain easing of restrictions does not mean it is compulsory for them to take advantage of any exemptions.
It will not make any difference to those who long ago realised the preceding.
My own plans for Christmas haven't altered one little bit.
Golfforall I know 
he does have a letter saying can travel for work maybe we could use that bud is on offer at moment with Amazon
I'll be alone on Christmas Day but won't be lonely . Just think these days we have all the electronics and tech (even though I don't play computer games ) . I have plenty of booze and food something to be grateful for .
Golf course is closed, Pub is closed , worst of all is the dire TV offering on Christmas day ! No live sport and nothing worth watching except Call the Midwife . So busy recording a selection of programmes to keep me going till Boxing Day .
As they said at the briefing :- Assume you have the virus , assume everyone else has it (including close family) and act accordingly . You don't know someone is a "spreader" ie infectious until up to 2 weeks after you have caught it off them !
I will be on my own too - but won't be lonely. (when I'm on my own I'm in good company 
) I've spent many Christmasses on my own and many of them have been better than some when I haven't been on my own.
davidstockport Very true , and I've found it difficult (though not impossible) to have a blazing row with myself !
Golfforall We can all do that... I find myself swearing at the television, then I switch it on and things really get really bad. 
we immediately changed plans for Christmas during the announcement, asking who were meant to come down Christmas Day to deliver their presents to us before 10pm tonight
Yes, my granddaughter came around immediately. We didn't hug and did our hands before sitting socially distant to open our pressies.
A wise choice - just think if we can keep it down for 2 or 3 months while the vaccinations roll out we'll hopefully all be there to celebrate in April .
The restrictions won't really affect me. I wasn't going anywhere at Christmas and no one was coming to us and I only go out once a week for food shopping. I still think visiting on Christmas day is dangerous, I'm concerned as my husband is a teacher and with the new strain, it makes me worried for our son.
Yes I saw those pics - Bonkers ! ....... If I can't catch it over Christmas I'll do my best to catch it now !
Golfforall did you see the video someone posted on Twitter of drakeford shopping in Lidl not so long after announcing lockdown
Ann1984 Yes and I thought I saw someone matching your description frantically heaving cases of Stella into a Transit !
I find it staggering that people have waited this long to do physical shopping anyway, given the fact that the rules and regulations can change at such short notice.
I bet Amazons' Jeff Bezos Is rubbing his hands with glee.
blacklabrador yep and again Amazon will be my next best friend in this lockdown Golfforall don’t for tags on lager
blacklabrador For those who have acted like dunces (to be polite !) for 9 months why would you expect them to act any different now ?
The only good thing about this I can see is that the terminally thick are finally ,at long last realising this is very , very serious and may even start obeying the guidance and rules that have been in place for months .
Golfforall And it's almost certain that those terminally thick are the ones that have helped to put us in the position we all find ourselves in this evening.
blacklabrador Exactly , sadly by being stupid they don't only put themselves at risk but their family, friends , neighbourhoods and eventually all of us . But do the dullards realise that - or even care ? I doubt it - maybe until now hopefully .
I am of the opinion that the only way forward was proposed at the begining of this fiasco , herd immunity , hugging , kissing and general touching should be made mandatory . The sooner we have all had it , suffered it and shrugged it off the faster a more understandable way of life returns . Also I love strangers hugging me but that's for a different type of discussion arena .. 
We don't have any family but all my friends are still going to relatives regardless of the rules
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