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The Prime Minister wants a UK-wide plan for the holiday season that will relax household mixing restrictions to allow members of up to three separate households to meet under the same roof. The ministers are discussing a general limit on the number of people, probably around 10, who can gather around the table for Christmas lunch and other festive meals. The talks come as the Government is preparing a strengthened regional regime of three levels of restrictions, which could include stricter rules than before on the sale of alcohol and domestic mixing, to replace the current second blockade in England from 2 December.
Johnson’s spokesman said: “We are looking for ways to ensure that people are able to spend time with close family members over Christmas at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year.”
Talks between Downing Street and the leaders of the delegated governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland about imposing the same rules across the UK for a short period are said to be moving forward.
The debate over the limit of attendees to holiday gatherings continues amid concerns about discrimination against families with large numbers of children.
Downing Street confirmed late Tuesday that the prime minister intends to end the second shutdown in England as scheduled next month, though work is still being done on how the new regional system will work.
New restrictions on the domestic mixing and sale of alcohol are being considered.
Some sources claim that an additional fourth level of even more draconian rules could be added for areas suffering from the worst Covid outbreaks.
But Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick insisted on Tuesday that the new regime would mark a “significant relaxation” of measures against the coronavirus.
The Cabinet Minister said: “The Prime Minister and the Government have very strong hope and expectation that we will see significant easing of the measures as we move into December.”
Appearing on Times Radio, Jenrick was asked if the government could be forced to ban indoor gatherings during Christmas if Covid-19 cases are still high.
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He said, “We don’t know yet. The tough patios we made in November were designed to allow most of the people in England to have a much more normal December so that we can go to the shops, use the hospitality and where possible be together as families In Christmas.
“We can see from the data that the phased approach in October and early November was having an impact, particularly in some parts of the country.
“It is too early to say the true impact of the new national measures because there is a delay of two or three weeks, but hopefully by the end of November we will be in a position to make that judgment.”
When asked about the change in restrictions next month, the prime minister’s spokesman said: “Our intention is to end the toughest national measures on December 2. That will happen by law and then we will move to a regionalized approach again.
“We will present it to Parliament next week. As for the progress that is being made, obviously we will wait to see more data in the next week.
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The national ‘R’ infection rate was falling, the spokesperson added. He said ministers will study infection rates, hospitalization, intensive care occupancy and overall pressure on the NHS when deciding on the new regional regime.
Parliamentarians will vote on the proposals before the national lockdown in England ends on December 2 with up to 70 Conservatives threatening to oppose the restrictions if they are deemed to have an undue economic impact.
Mark Harper, chairman of the new Covid Recovery Group of MPs, skeptical of further lockdowns, said the onus is on the government to show balanced measures to curb the disease with a broader impact on public health and the economy.
“The parliamentarians will await with interest the justification that the Government presents before the debate,” he said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs yesterday that it was “too early” to say what measures the government will implement after the four-week shutdown in England.
He vowed to consider a proposal to assign tiers by districts rather than by county from Conservative Rep. Kevin Hollinrake.
Hancock said: “Throughout the tiered system process, we have always looked at a granular level of detail, whether at the district council level or indeed at the district level in some cases, to make sure we have the right measures in place. in the appropriate places.
“While it is too early to say exactly how we will proceed from December 3, that is a commitment I can make.”
Discussions over national rules over Christmas follow the growing divergence between the four parts of the UK in the response to the coronavirus.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that a total of 11 council areas will be placed under her government’s highest level of coronavirus restrictions later this week.
Level 4 measures, similar to a total lockdown, will apply from 6pm Friday in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.
Under the Scottish system Level 4 restrictions, non-essential shops will be forced to close, and bars, restaurants, gyms, hair salons and visitor attractions will also be banned, although schools will remain open.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said: “I know people are frustrated that other restrictions have stayed in place longer than planned, but Level 4 is meant to be short and sharp.
“And in this situation, it is specifically intended to have an impact before Christmas and the most challenging winter period.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We are looking to end national restrictions on December 2 and move to a tiered system.
“There will be separate rules for Christmas, but a decision has yet to be made on that.”
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