COVID-19: Family ignore 'rash' restriction easing to exchange gifts at service station
The Shephards will exchange presents with their extended family a few days before Christmas - and in a COVID-secure way.
Tuesday 15 December 2020 21:54, UK
One family has decided not to wait for the government's review of its Christmas coronavirus restrictions - and will exchange presents early at a motorway service station.
Amanda Shephard told Sky News they had chosen not to meet at her parents' home in Worcester - and instead decided on the more extreme, but COVID-secure option.
"My parents are 72, my husband's mum is 75, and although they are generally fit, well, and happy to go out and see us all, it's always in the back of your mind that you may have taken the virus to them.
"So we just decided to meet up with them half way on a motorway service station and exchange presents there."
The mother of three added that meeting while COVID-19 cases were on the rise came with consequences that were "just too great".
Mrs Shephard last saw her family almost four months ago - at the end of August.
The time before this was prior to the first national lockdown in March.
And while "very sad" at the altered plans, she said meeting at an open place will ensure that it can be done in a "socially-distanced" way.
Christmas Day itself, will be spent in each family's respective homes - and with chats on FaceTime.
"This way we are keeping everyone safe," Mrs Shephard added.
Mrs Shephard believes the government's decision to allow three-family Christmas bubbles from the 23-27 December was a "rash" move and was made "too far in advance".
"It was made so long ago, so much has happened since then. The cases have risen hugely and a lot more areas are going into Tier 3.
"I just think it was made too far in advance of Christmas and the government should have waited until now, because now is the crunch time.
"They (the government) keep going on about the NHS being under too much pressure, but yet that's exactly what those four days could create in the New Year."
Mrs Shephard added: "It is worrying because we could go back into lockdown in the New Year because of it."
She noted that although her children are "very sad" about not seeing their grandparents this Christmas, they have agreed to compromise to protect them before they are vaccinated.