Christmas lockdown rules leave families up in the air
FAMILIES NOW LIMITED TO ONE DAY OF FESTIVE CHEER INSTEAD OF FIVE
THE latest plans for Christmas have left a lot of people in Grimsby confused, frustrated and shocked. Some have had to scrap all plans to travel to see relatives in other parts of the country.
Those who had already cut back on plans for contact with loved ones said the decision was the only safe way to enjoy Christmas present and Christmas in the future.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who five days ago told families they could be together for five days, has now decided Christmas has to be whittled down to one day - December 25 - for people living in Tiers 1, 2 and 3.
He said the rules also mean that t no Christmas bubbles will be e allowed at all in the new Tier 4, , which affects people travelling g from northern Lincolnshire to o London and the south East. Tier 4 rules include closures of f non-essential shops, hairdressers, , gyms, leisure facilities and enter- tainment venues from tonight, in n London and parts of the South h East.
Three households were able to o meet under the old rules by y expanding bubbles, but now that t has been completely revoked for r Tier 4 and residents must not leave e their area.
But there is now expected to be a mad rush to send parcels to places s that people were planning to visit, , adding to the costs of Christmas. A Grimsby teacher, who only y wished to be called Sara, said she e and her husband had planned to o travel to Scotland for five days. At 74West salon on Victoria a Street, she said: “It was always a stupid plan to go for five days. I needn’t have had my hair and nails done.”
A medical secretary also in the salon said: “At the end of the day Covid doesn’t know it’s Christmas. Five days would undermine all the effort that has been made. He has done the right g thing g and p prevents
another lockdown later.” Salon owner Scott Harries said: “I am gutted for those salon businesses in Tier Four. We have tried to put all the measures in place to create a safe environment for customers and they have done that in London too. This is the busiest time of the year. But it is the right t thing to do to keep everyone safe.” James Hirst was shopping with daughter Georgia. He said: “It is going to be a safe Christmas for us as there is just my wife and I and our daughter at home in Waltham.” Georgia said: “I work as a student nurse in hospital in Lincoln and it has been crazy. People do not understand the scale of death the virus is causing.”
Ben Newton, 17, said: “We going to be doing what we do every year with all the family together and that would have meant seeing
three households. With it only being only one day a lot of people thnking of travelling might not now.”
Chloe Cribb, 17, told: “It will be hard not being able to see all the family. I will be spending most of the time with my family.”
Another shopper said: “It is not good. My son lives in Leeds and I have not
seen him for a year and a day. He is coming back . I am not changing things. Travelling over there to pick him up and take him back means the day is gone and you can’t have a drink.” Macca Drakes, 21, of Grimsby said: “I was planning to be with my mates in Grimsby for a few days. But we will just make the most of it for one day.” Bethany Dixon said: “We had already planned not to be together as we have grandparents. We will drop presents round on Christmas Eve but that will be it.”
Michael Atkin told: “It is very bad. It ruins Christmas for people. For those in a small family or with young ones it is going to be difficult as they will have been looking forward so much. Keeping it to three days would have been nicer. I am shocked.”