Covid 19 coronavirus UK: Christmas crowds fill London as restrictions decision looms

Thousands of people have flocked to London’s main shopping areas this weekend ahead of a decision on whether coronavirus restrictions tighten in the capital.

England’s current tier system will be revised on Wednesday 16th December.

London is on “high alert” at Level 2. This places restrictions on meeting others outside of your home or support bubble, but all non-essential retail stores may be open.

The Guardian reports that the apparent threshold for going to Level 3 – “very high alert” – has already been exceeded in some London boroughs.

This includes Havering, which has more than twice the England average of 153 cases per 100,000 people, 379.

On Level 3, bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed, except for home delivery and take away.

According to government figures, London alone registered 17,131 cases in the week of November 29 to December 5, an increase of 3,000 cases in the previous week.

“The risks associated with Christmas are enormous, even without this increase,” Dr Mike Gill, former regional director of public health for the Southeast region, told the BBC.

“People must take steps to greatly reduce their contact. A Level 3 lockdown will contribute to this very significantly.”

Across the UK, people will be allowed to form Christmas bubbles on December 23-27, allowing three households to blend into private households.

The photos below show crowds on the iconic Regent St in London’s West End on Saturday (UK time).