COVID Christmas rules ‘like winning the lottery’ – but some remain ‘deeply concerned’

With five days of freedom over the festive period, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The decision to lift the lockdown between the 23 and 27 December has sparked a national conversation, in homes and places of work.

Sky News spoke to four people from different walks of life – some are happy, some are still concerned about the new rules.

Manchester’s turbulent time throughout this pandemic has meant the city’s cathedral doors have mostly remained shut.

But as rules relax for festivities, families will be allowed back in.

For many it will be a flicker of joy, but for the Dean of Manchester, Rogers Govender, it’s a worrying move.

“It’s exciting, joyful, wonderful, but I’m really worried… is it really safe?” he asks.

“If I’m being honest, I would much rather the restrictions are still in place and mixing in homes was delayed until people start getting vaccinated.

“My feelings are mixed… as much as I want to encourage people to come to church for Christmas service, the thought of bubbles mixing households does bother me enormously.”

He adds: “If you celebrate and mark Christmas this year slightly differently by staying safe and socially distant, it’s not going to be the end of the world.

“Delay it for a year, save your life and save the lives of others.”

For the hospitality sector, the pandemic has been tough financially.

Christmas is usually their busiest time of the year, but with the three-household bubble rule not applying to restaurants, pubs or bars, the chance to claw back any cash is limited.

David Fox, who owns several branches of the pan-Asian restaurant Tampopo, struggles to understand the new rules.

“It’s deeply frustrating, I feel like we’ve been under water for nearly four months, it’s really infuriating, thinking we’re going to come back up for some air and we’re being pushed down again with very little evidence,” he says.

“We’re on significantly less income than normally, especially on the build up to what would be the busiest time normally.”

He adds: “Having a few of those five days open to have as many people in would be massive. Are bubbles going to mix safely within hospitality or home? I think everyone knows the answer to that.”

And how will these new rules look through the eyes of our already stretched NHS staff?

Dr Indeewar Kapila is an intensive care consultant, the perfect present for him would be an empty COVID-19 ward.

“I am deeply concerned to hear that there will be a period of the Christmas bubble which will inevitably lead to a rise of infections, people coming into hospital with COVID and the rise of the number of people dying with it,” he says.

He recognises the “need for people to come together over the festive period” but says people will “inevitably suffer as a consequence of this”.

“The government hasn’t relaxed on other festive occasions, I believe we should continue with restrictions over the Christmas period,” Dr Kapila adds.

This is a boost for the nation however, families finally given a break from the virus.

Suzanne Wiggins, a grandmother in Manchester, has already decorated the front of her house and is making plans with two other households on how to spend their five days of Christmas.

“It’s like winning the lottery, I can do an awful lot in five days. I get to see all my loved ones who I’ve missed terribly, I just can’t wait,” she says.

“It’s been nothing but bad news all year, people dying, so now we’ve got something to look forward to.

“I haven’t seen these people for months, it’s only been the odd telephone call. It’s terrible not being able to hug my family, I can’t wait to do that, and just to be with them.

“It feels like losing weight, I’ve got something to look forward to, something to focus on.”

(c) Sky News 2020: COVID Christmas rules ‘like winning the lottery’ – but some remain ‘deeply concerned’