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Millions of families across the UK were forced to scrap Christmas plans this week after another government U-turn.
Having previously said that people could form “Christmas bubbles” for five days from today, Boris Johnson, panicked, was forced to scrap the plan on Saturday.
He said a new strain of Covid-19, spreading faster than previous incarnations, meant that it was no longer possible to allow households in many parts of the country to mix.
Around 18 million people in the Southeast were placed on a new Level 4 and told that Christmas bubbles would no longer be allowed at all.
For the rest of England, the five-day holiday break was reduced to a single day, Christmas Day, but families were advised to think carefully before reuniting.
Starting on Boxing Day, another six million people will enter Level 4, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced this afternoon.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
However, government guidance states that, in a limited number of exceptions, reunion with loved ones is allowed.
These include:
Bubble holder
These remain in place, even in areas where restrictions have been updated.
In a limited number of situations, people can form a bubble of support with members of another household.
You can form a support bubble with another hearth of any size if:
- You live alone, even if caregivers visit you for support.
- you are the only adult in your household who does not need ongoing care as a result of a disability
- your household includes a child under one year of age or younger on December 2, 2020
- your household includes a child with a disability who requires ongoing care and is under the age of 5, or was under 5 on December 2, 2020
- are 16 or 17 years old and live with other people of the same age and without an adult
- you are a single adult living with one or more children under the age of 18 or who were under 18 on June 12, 2020
If you share custody of a child with someone you do not live with, the child can move freely between the homes of both parents. It is not necessary to form a support bubble to do this.
Meet outside for exercise
The ‘rule of six’, which is in effect at levels 1, 2 and 3, has been removed at level 4.
Instead, people can meet a person who does not live outdoors and in a public space.
This means that it is legal to meet a loved one for a walk or some other form of exercise.
But it is not allowed to enter together indoors or in a private garden.
(Image: Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street)
College students returning home
The restrictions on traveling between levels do not apply to students returning home, but those who do so are urged to be cautious.
This week, the Minister of Universities, Michelle Donelan, encouraged anyone who returns with their families to get tested first.
She wrote: “This government made a commitment that students could go home at Christmas and we are keeping it.
“To be clear, any student can ride home one time during the period from December 3, 2020 to February 7, 2021.
“This is still the case for those who may be preparing to travel to or from a Level 4 area.”
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