Can't decide what to do

Are you in good health Roswell? Do you live alone? How much of a financial hit would you take if you went earlier?

I’m also 66 next year so I know yourState Pension won’t come through until then so if you can manage without your salary for a year it might be worth doing.

It all depends on your money situation doesn’t it. If you can afford to retire now and are worried about the children passing it on to you then do it.

For the sake of a year I'd continue working, then see how the land lies after then.

You'd lose your final years salary---not worth giving up yet.

Would you have the option of going part time? That might help you gradually withdraw from working.

Thank you for your thoughts. I am in good health as a rule and would not think of leaving early in normal circumstances. I will see how things are at half term.

Going part time does not answer the problem of perhaps getting Covid. You must either retire, to hopefully keep safe or carry on as best you can, working but not fretting

i'd leave.
it's not worth the risk.
you want to stay well enough to enjoy your retirement.