- Emery Lloyd
Christmas vs Covid-19 in the UK
Around the world, every person in a position of power has been under immense pressure as they do their best to keep their country safe by implementing restrictions; however, the top priority of the European government is ensuring Christmas continues.
The rapidly dispersing Covid-19 has hit many countries harshly, but none quite as bad as the UK. Their high level of infection has forced many parts of England into a Tier 4 lockdown as they have currently reported roughly 2 542 065 Covid-19 cases. To help the UK through these difficult times, Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided to allow a grace period around Christmas. “This means that the U.K.'s Christmas rules will be more lenient than in Germany, France, Spain and Italy, which have all tightened restrictions recently — even though cases in Britain are rising faster than in any of those countries, according to data analyzed by the University of Oxford.”
While restrictions in other countries are tightening because of rising infections, the UK is relaxing the rules for the five days around Christmas, allowing three households to form a bubble. This support from the government will cause the population to get too comfortable with large social gatherings.
“Supporters of Johnson's policy say that many people would be willing to accept the risks of spending Christmas with their families after a bleak year.” Everyone in the world understands the pain and loneliness that this pandemic has caused, therefore it is understandable to want a break and to see more people for Christmas. However, there must be more attention paid to the big picture. This leniency will lead to more cases, and evidently, thousands of more deaths.
President Johnson even has experts worried as he is “failing the nation.” The British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said in a joint editorial stated:
"The government was too slow to introduce restrictions in the spring and again in the autumn. It should now reverse its rash decision to allow household mixing. We believe the government is about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives. "If our political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action, they can no longer claim to be 'protecting the NHS.” British Medical Journal and Health Service Journey
In an interview, President Johnson stated, due to these difficult times,
“Time spent with loved ones is even more precious for people of all faiths. We all want some kind of Christmas. We need it, and we certainly feel we deserve it.” President Johnson
Then only one question remains: how many lives are worth a holiday?
Sources
https://news.sky.com/story/a-covid-christmas-whats-allowed-during-the-festive-season-12138882
https://news.sky.com/story/a-covid-christmas-whats-allowed-during-the-festive-season-12138882
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1832556099648
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51768274