The government is urging people to ’know before you go’ to Christmas parties this festive season.

Among its new guidance surrounding the newly emerged Covid-19 Omicron variant, it is urging party goers to take a lateral flow test before leaving their homes.

Currently, the only places face coverings are required are public transport and healthcare settings.

We asked the public if they were going to any Christmas parties this winter or if they were going to be giving them a miss.

Dee Lloyd-Jones, from Onchan, had already had her work Christmas party but didn’t understand why workplaces were cancelling outings.

The 50-year-old said: ’Why cancel it when you’re working together?

’What I’m thinking is there must be people in these companies who are saying "no, I don’t want to be part of it", and there are people in offices who keep their mask on and are very concerned about the virus and I understand that but if you’re working together, why?

’Take a lateral flow test before you go and take a test on the next day or a couple of days after. I think it’s fair and it’s enough.

’And many people have been double- or even triple-vaccinated - why are you worrying? Even if you get it, you’re not going to get it that bad.’

Bob and Marilyn Bolton, of Willaston, were already booked in to celebrate the holiday.

Mr Bolton, 69, said: ’You can stay in the house and still catch it. We’re in the position where we’ve been away a couple of times recently and we’ve had professional tests and home tests and always tested negative.

’We’ve got three kids on the island who have caught Covid, so it’s one of those things. If you’re going to catch it, you’re going to catch it.

’It doesn’t really bother me because we’re both double jabbed and we’re waiting for a new date on the booster. When this one goes, there’ll be another one that comes along.

’You could be negative and you can catch it off somebody there who’s not even showing symptoms. You could still catch it whether you go or not and you might as well make the most of what time you’ve got.

’There’s a risk in everything.’

Mrs Bolton, also 69, was slightly more concerned, saying: ’I am being more cautious than he is.’

Father and son, Nicholas and Matthew Galovics, from Douglas, were ready to ’crack on as normal’.

Matthew, 31, said: ’It’s not what everyone was hoping for and expecting but I think you’ve got to try and get on with it now. It is worrying obviously and it’s all up in the air.

’We thought we’d be well over it by now but then, is there going to be another variant next year? Where do you start and where do you stop?

’You don’t know what next month’s going to bring, so take it as it comes.’

His father, who is 61, added: ’It’s a Catch-22 really. It’s all up in the air but it is concerning with the new variant. Take each day as it comes.’

Moira Cooke, also of Douglas, felt Christmas parties shouldn’t be cancelled.

The 69-year-old said: ’I would go, I’d wear a mask to be on the safe side going in. Obviously you’ve got to take it off to eat though.’

When asked if she would be concerned about the possibility of having to isolate during Christmas, she replied: ’It would be unfortunate but it’s one of those things. I’ll have to cross my fingers.

’I think [the government’s guidelines] are enough. If you do a test before and you’re cautious the next couple of days, it should be fine.’