A BRADFORD doctor says families mixing together over Christmas is a risky process.
Bradford was placed into Tier 3 from December 3 but the government announced earlier this week that there will be a five-day break in some restrictions for Christmas in England between December 23 and 28, where up to three households will be able to mix.
Dr Amir Khan says we will not have a normal Christmas ahead and, despite understanding the psychological boost mixing households could have, he says it does not weigh up with the science as the pandemic continues.
Why is hugging so much more risky than sitting in a room with someone for hours?@DramirkhanGP says there’s no scientific basis to allowing households to mix at Christmas and it is a political decision.
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 27, 2020
He says it so risky and will make the new year very difficult for the NHS. pic.twitter.com/2cIbiRWu85
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Dr Khan said: “Opening up households for those five days for Christmas is not necessarily a scientific decision, it’s more of a political decision.
“Trying to balance it out with the science isn’t going to work. It’s a tricky balance. Its more about human behaviour and decision making.
“People in households are going to be breathing the same air.
“I feel very strongly that opening up over Christmas is so so risky. January and February will be difficult for the NHS.
“We are so close to getting those vaccines rolled out.
“It’s frustrating to see this, purely from a health point of view.
‘This is not a normal Christmas.’
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 27, 2020
After Chris Whitty said he would not hug an elderly relative, @DrAmirKhanGP said he’s reflecting a feeling of nervousness among NHS employees.
He agrees with Whitty saying we shouldn’t be getting close even if households are mixing. pic.twitter.com/B0MbZ95Kra
“We’re very nervous about this five day Christmas period., This idea having a break over Christmas, “Without doubt it is a risky process. We shouldn’t be hugging vulnerable people. We shouldn’t get too close over the Christmas period.
“This isn’t a normal Christmas, as much as we’d like it to be. It can’t be a normal Christmas.
“The only way to get back to normality is to get this a vaccine.
“We are very nervous about this five-day period Christmas period. We are seeing what is happening on the frontline.
“We understand the psychological need of having a break over Christmas.”
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