People in the UK will be left to make their own judgments on whether Christmas celebrations are worth the risk, with warnings to avoid elderly relatives and a recommendation to isolate in the run-up to the festive period.
UK prime minister Boris Johnson said it would be “inhuman” to ban Christmas entirely and confirmed the festive bubble policy allowing households to mix would remain in place despite warnings it will lead to more deaths.
But he said people should “think hard” about what they do and a “smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas”.
The original UK-wide plans would have seen three households allowed to form a festive bubble between December 23rd and 27th.
But despite efforts to maintain a four-nations approach, Wales will legislate to restrict mixing to two households and all parts of the UK are issuing tougher guidance.
Maximums
At a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson stressed that the three households, five days provisions were “maximums, not a target to aim for”.
He suggested that from Friday people mixing with others over Christmas should effectively isolate by reducing their contacts to the “lowest possible,” while also urging people to avoid staying away from home overnight where possible and to avoid travelling from a high-prevalence to a low-prevalence area.
Mr Johnson also suggested people should avoid seeing elderly relatives until they have been vaccinated.
The prime minister admitted the coronavirus situation had deteriorated since the festive bubble rules were set by the four nations of the UK.
Mr Johnson said: “While it would not be right, we think, to criminalise people who have made plans and simply want to spend time with their loved ones, we’re collectively – across the UK governments at every level – asking you to think hard, and in detail about the days ahead.”
Have yourselves a merry little Christmas – and I’m afraid this year I do mean little
He said the laws were remaining the same but “a smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas and a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas”.
He added: “Have yourselves a merry little Christmas – and I’m afraid this year I do mean little.
“But with the vaccine, and all the other measures that we are taking, we do know that things will be better in this country by Easter.”
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said modelling indicated the looser restrictions would lead to more deaths.
Deviate
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford set out his decision to deviate from the previously agreed approach.
He said: “Here in Wales, the position is that only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble during the five-day period.
“The fewer people we mix with in our homes, the less chance we have of catching or spreading the virus.”
The price of the relaxed restrictions will be a tougher lockdown in Wales from December 28th.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The safest way to spend Christmas this year for you and for those you love is to stay within your own household and your own home.
“My strong recommendation is this is what you should do if at all possible.”
In Northern Ireland, First Minister Arlene Foster said the public must take “all and every precaution” at Christmas and proposals for further restrictions will be brought forward on Thursday.
