England recently emerged from a four-week lockdown into a series of tiered restrictions, and there is good news about the authorisation of the first vaccine for COVID-19, which is starting to be deployed. But with restrictions loosened, infection rates still high and vaccine deployment slow, is there a risk of a third lockdown in early 2021?
The second English coronavirus lockdown has been devastating for businesses in retail and hospitality. Yet we can see the lockdown has “worked”, bringing case numbers down almost by half from their peak. Rates of new admissions to hospital have also fallen, but pressure on England’s National Health Service (NHS) has not eased substantially.
We have decided that Christmas, for us, is going to be a non-event this year. No children, no decorations and not even putting a tree this year, little point, it will only serve as a depressing reminder. Sharon will also be working as usual, hopefully in a vaccinated environment by then. It is going to be so different this year, but hopefully the immediate families are going to be safe. My daughter is doing the same too, to protect her in-laws.
The numbers did fall nicely but sadly they seem to have reached a plateau now. Christmas this year will be a very small bubble event this year. The technology is set up to watch my grandchildren open presents. Lol..I have worked out how to split the screen to watch three different houses.
I would not be at all surprised. With the return to tiers and the easing of restrictions for Christmas, I, and many people I know, are fully expecting the incidence of covid to increase again. In some areas if my region, in tier 3, they already are.
Have resigned myself to the fact that I'll be Shielding for at least next two months. As already self isolating till Sunday because of catching Covid in hospital ( but still got symptoms so maybe longer) there will no real difference, just stay home and safe. The one big problem is trying to get my bloods taken. The hospital wanted them done weekly and even sent me home with the forms BUT no one wants a Covid positive person near their Surgery/Clinic/ Outreach Satellite Unit. So had to ring Consultant and they have a made a Pop Up clinic for Shielding patients on Tuesday.
Unfortunately I think it is highly likely. I’m in the North East (tier 3) and there were reports on the local news that Northumberland Street in Newcastle had 35,000 shoppers on the first day of trading after lockdown. It seems Christmas presents are more important than life itself!This year it will just be the two of us. I’m starting to think it will be very nice. For once, I might actually get out of the kitchen!
They are now talking about London moving into Tier 3, I think if that happens we will then be put back into a National lockdown, the irony being when we come out of the first lockdown, the North West R Number was still between 0.9 and 1.1, this time the R Number in the North West is below 1, but London and the South East are rising.
Students returning home and people travelling across regions for Christmas visits are going to inevitably alter the infection rates in January. A lot of people will not be able to resist getting together, human nature will override common sense.
It's been tough I've been shielding for 9 months I have hypersensitivity pneumonitis on Immunosuppressents and pred. My son who I havent seen since march is at uni in Glasgow. He is coming home for christmas. He has had 2 tests both negative in glasgow and will stay with his sister for 5 days and have another test b4 he can come and stay with his dad and me I'm not having my other children or grandchildren round for Christmas. We are going to mask up socially distant,and meet in the park. The risk is just to great. I'm on oxygen 24/7 merry christmas everyone stay safe.
people think we have a vaccine and that is that . we should be told how long that is going to take I have heard estimations of up to 2 years. so everyone thinks they are ok and christmas comes first. We should not have been allowed this freedom of movement. i was reckoning on having christmas at easter but now think that is over optimistic.
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