On Wednesday the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Question Time said, when asked by the Leader of the Opposition if there was medical/scientific evidence to continue with the proposed 5 day Christmas COVID-19 Holiday, that the Leader of the Opposition wanted to "cancel Christmas..." and it would be "frankly, inhuman..." to do this. Well, the 'inhuman' Prime Minister has now cancelled Christmas!
There appears to be extra panic erupting in the media, a likely response to an overreaction by the Government in the way it made its announcement, maybe. This new mutation of COVID-19 appears to be blamed for the rapid increase in the rate of infection in London and the South East, but, and I'll explain it shortly, I have been reassured by a virologist speaking on the Naked Scientist programme on Radio 5-Live this morning, shortly after 06.00, that my immediate reaction was correct.
First, the speed of transmission can only be the result of human behaviour, so, if we continue to go through the sensible actions most of us have been practicing since March, then that continues to protect us. It is the interactions between people, and poor hygiene (notably not washing hands regularly and sanitizing surfaces outside the safety of sanitized homes, not wearing masks etc) that helps the spread of the virus.
Second, all viruses mutate, and the scientific community has been closely following the progress of this coronavirus for nearly a year now, indeed, there is no evidence to support wild announcements about this mutation. For example, vaccines should still be effective, but if tweaks are required, they will be made very simply. Please be reassured, there really is no need to panic! But do still be very careful...
I am cutting from the BBC website, & pasting to below, what it now means to be in Tier 4, it is virtually the same as lockdown, except children can still go to school (dear me, will they never learn?) and places of worship can stay open for community services:
Meeting friends and family
- You should stay at home except for specific reasons including education, work (if it can't be done from home), exercise, medical needs, food and other essential shopping and to provide care.
- You should not mix socially indoors, or in a private garden, with anyone who is not part of your household or support bubble.
- Support bubbles can be formed between one household and another which contains only one adult - with some exceptions.
- You can meet one other person at a time from another household in an outdoors public place (such as a park, a street, countryside, an allotment or a children's playground).
- Children can continue to move between homes if their parents are separated.
Going to Work
- You should work at home if possible.
- If you have to return to your workplace, your employer must make arrangements for you to work safely.
Schools & Nurseries
- Primary and secondary schools can open, as can nurseries and childcare.
- If a school has coronavirus cases, local health protection teams will advise what to do.
- All pupils and staff in secondary schools (Year 7 and above) must wear face coverings in communal areas outside the classroom.
Leisure Time
- Pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes are closed, except for takeaways.
- There is no limit on the time allowed for exercise outdoors or, for example, for sitting on a park bench or eating and drinking outside.
- Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools are closed.
- Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges, riding centres and playgrounds can remain open for individual exercise.
- Organised outdoor sport for under-18s and disabled people can continue.
- Entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, are all closed.
- Hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites are closed except in certain circumstances (such as where they are someone's main residence, or where it is essential to stay there for work purposes).
Shopping
- All non-essential shops must close.
- Close contact services, such as hairdressing or beauty salons must close.
Other
- You are not allowed to stay overnight away from your home, whether on holiday, in a second home or caravan, or with anyone you do not live with, or are in a support bubble with.
- You are not allowed to travel outside your tier four area.
- You are not allowed to travel abroad, unless for exceptional reasons.
- Places of worship remain open for communal services.
Merry Christmas! 😢
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