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People who form “Christmas bubbles” are told that it is “vital” that they minimize contact with other people outside their home starting today.
In a message on his Twitter account, which included a link to the government’s guidance on easing COVID-19 rules during the holiday period, Boris Johnson said: “If you are forming a Christmas bubble, it is vital that starting today, you minimize contact with people outside your home.
“Everyone must take personal responsibility to avoid transmitting the virus to their loved ones this Christmas.”
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COVID-19 levels rise
It comes as a head of nursing warned that relaxing restrictions during the holiday period could trigger a “tsunami” of coronavirus cases in the new year.
However, a survey showed that half of adults across the country said they planned to form a Christmas bubble.
In data released by the Office for National Statistics, 56% said they feel it is very easy, or easy, to understand the rules.
Figures from a survey conducted between December 10 and 13 show that 38% of people have no plans to form a bubble during the holiday period.
While more than two-thirds of England will be live under Level 3 restrictions Starting Saturday, restrictions on domestic mixing will be relaxed starting next Wednesday for the holiday period.
With a week to go up Christmas Day, nurses are asking the government to provide “new and more detailed” advice to the public in an effort to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases in the new year.
Dame Donna Kinnair, Executive Director and Secretary General of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “After a difficult year, it is everyone’s instinct to want to be together and see their loved ones, especially those who live far away or feel isolated.
“But the stakes are coming into sharp focus.
“The travel and family visits associated with this time of year will undoubtedly lead to more cases, more pressure on the NHS and care services, and more deaths. By turning the second and third waves into a relentless tsunami, we would begin 2021 of the worst possible way. “
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‘An ever shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas’
Dame Donna added that nurses would not be able to enjoy the Christmas period “knowing what awaits them in January,” and urged ministers to give more information about the risks of mingling at Christmas, saying: “This virus does not take off Christmas and nor us. “
The household mix will likely lead to stricter measures in the new year as well, according to a member of the government’s scientific advisory panel.
SAGE professor John Edmunds from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told Sky News: “At the moment, it does not appear that the tiered system is slowing the epidemic wave, unfortunately.
“So I think we’re going to have to consider these measures and maybe reinforce them, we really will. It’s a horrible thing to say, but we’re in a pretty difficult position.”
But he suggested that while loosening restrictions at Christmas “is probably not good for the epidemic,” “it is probably good for people’s well-being in other ways.”
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‘Don’t travel at Christmas’ – Patel
He said he will not mix with elderly relatives during the holiday season, choosing to wait until they have been vaccinated.
The warnings come amid growing frustration over the level system, which saw a shakeup on Thursday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock moved the following areas to Level 3 – the highest level of restrictions, which means entertainment and hospitality venues must close, except for takeout services:
- Bedford
- Central bedfordshire
- Luton
- Milton keynes
- Buckinghamshire
- Reading
- Wokingham
- Bracknell Forest
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- West Berkshire
- Peterborough
- The rest of Hertfordshire not yet on Level 3 (Dacorum, East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, St Albans, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield)
- Surrey (except Waverley)
- Hastings and Rother
- Portsmouth
- Havant
- Go play sports
Bristol and North Somerset will move to Level 2, while Herefordshire will move to Level 1.
All changes take effect from Saturday.
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The COVID crisis in Northern Ireland is ‘quite serious’
The announcement that more areas will be subjected to the strictest restrictions drew criticism from conservatives.
Steve Baker, the vice chairman of the group of deputies skeptical of the Covid Recovery Group lockdown, called for clarity on how decisions are made to move areas between levels.
He said: “After a total and damaging national lockdown, millions of people and businesses across the country are facing stricter restrictions.
“The government must urgently clarify what the criteria are for moving areas between levels, and especially down.”
Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland said it was “ridiculous to be dragged to Level 3” while Altrincham and Sale West MP Sir Graham Brady said news that Greater Manchester will remain at the highest level will be “received with dismay.”
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The government did not rule out a new national lockdown on Friday after the leaders of Wales and Northern Ireland announced that their nations would be subject to strict restrictions after Christmas.
Wales will return in a national confinement as of December 28, while Faces of Northern Ireland such Boxing Day measurements.
Earlier remarks to Sky News, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “Of course, nothing is ruled out as we tackle this pandemic.”
But he insisted that the current tier system in England is “very effective” in finding where the local peaks are and targeting restrictions in those areas.
