Covid Christmas: Is a short break from lockdown misery essential? – Helen Martin

With lockdown going on until December 11 for Level 4, I assume shops will be crowded for everything from gifts to festive dinners right up to Christmas Eve.

Will Christmas have to be cancelled this year? (Picture: Alex Smith/SWNS)

It seems strong restraint is in order to let families bubble or “bauble” for Christmas, and also for Hogmanay and New Year’s Day. And that’s a plan for across the whole UK, albeit some areas have different methods.

It’s an understandable policy. Everyone is hoping for a version of “normality” for Christmas, whether they are Christian or not.

But I suspect that might only happen if Covid-19 really is significantly reduced. I also suspect some scientists and members of the NHS will be rolling their eyes, considering the chance that such togetherness will cause another surge in January.

I’m imagining grans and grandpas, parents and kids will see it as a chance for hugs and kisses, playing games with each throwing the same dice, sharing spoons at the table, and obviously we can’t eat and drink with masks on. With up to four households assembling, there might be singing of carols and Auld Lang Syne, laughter around the table, and more consumption of alcohol than people have swigged for months.

It wouldn’t surprise me if some sensible advice came from governments and medical updates to limit all that closeness.

But the big question is, what happens if the R rate doesn’t fall and the virus hasn’t reduced. Will Christmas together be cancelled? Or perhaps this is a necessary short, essential “normality” to create a brief period of cheerfulness and avoid C-19 misery and depression.

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