Christmas lockdown rules: What festive plans could look like during Covid-19
It's time to put up the Christmas tree, with the festive season on the minds of many Britons. What exactly could the celebration look like this year?
Families will be able to 'bubble' with two other households for five days at Christmas under a deal struck by the Government with the devolved nations, but those bubbles cannot meet up inside pubs, hotels, shops, theatres or restaurants.
Boris Johnson told MPs on November 23 that the Government is working on a time-limited Christmas dispensation with the devolved administrations.
Restrictions on church services are due to be lifted, allowing Christmas Day services to be held.
Announcing the lifting of lockdown measures on December 2, Mr Johnson said: "I can't say that Christmas will be normal this year - but in a period of adversity, time spent with loved ones is even more precious for people of all faiths and none.
"We all want some kind of Christmas, we need it, we certainly feel we deserve it. But what we don't want is to throw caution to the winds and allow the virus to flare up again, forcing us all back into lockdown in January.
"So to allow families to come together, while minimising the risk, we're working with the devolved administrations on a special, time-limited Christmas dispensation, embracing the whole of the United Kingdom."
In a briefing from Downing Street on November 26, Professor Chris Whitty also spoke out about whether easing the rules over Christmas will lead to more severe restrictions before and after the holiday.
Emphasising the risk, the professor shared: "Everyone knows that, it's not a secret at all. However, he said it is only a risk over January and February, as this is the time when the NHS faces the most "extreme pressure".
Chief Medical Officer also shared that Christmas can be enjoyed without a sharp rise in cases if people "take it really seriously" and "don't do unnecessary things, just because you can".
Read more: How do the new Covid tier rules affect me?
How is Covid-19 going to affect Christmas this year?
On November 24, the four nations agreed on arrangements for the Christmas period in a deal between Michael Gove and the First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Three households will be able to meet indoors between December 23 and 27, but they cannot all meet up inside pubs, hotels, retail, theatres or restaurants.
Northern Ireland has negotiated a seven-day suspension of travel rules to allow people to catch flights or ferries to Britain.
However, on November 26, the Scottish Government set a cap of eight people over 12 years old for Christmas gatherings. They also emphasised that households should remain two metres apart while inside.
Hugging will be allowed at Christmas, as will services in places of worship, and care home residents under the age of 65 may spend the festive period with one other household.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove said: "In coming to this agreement, we have listened to scientific and clinical advice on how best to minimise the risk and reach a balanced and workable set of rules that we hope will allow people to spend time together at this important time of year."
From December 2 and until December 23, lockdown will be replaced by a tougher three-tier system, with more areas placed in tiers 2 and 3 than before.
A total of 23.3 million people, 41.5 per cent of the population, will face the highest level of restrictions from December 2, including large areas such as Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and regions of Yorkshire.
Read more: How each lockdown tier will change under revamped Covid restrictions
Almost the whole of England was placed in the top two tiers by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary.
Large urban areas such as Greater Manchester and Birmingham were placed in Tier 3, London and Liverpool in Tier 2 and just three regions in Tier 1. Use our postcode tool to find out what tier you fall under.
Boris Johnson told the Commons: "This will still be a hard winter. Christmas cannot be normal and there's a long road to spring, but we have turned a corner and the escape route is in sight.
"We must hold out against the virus until testing and vaccines come to our rescue and reduce the need for restrictions."
Mr Johnson had been told by senior Tories to start "treating people as adults" as polling has found that one in four Britons will break coronavirus rules to see family and friends on Christmas Day.
Read more on tiered restrictions:
Will there be a five day Christmas break?
Yes. People all over the UK will enjoy a five-day break from Christmas Eve to December 28.
Relatives will be able to spend several days together for the festivities and families will not have to "choose between grandparents".
However, the Prime Minister has reportedly been warned by scientific advisers not to "throw fuel on the fire" by allowing gatherings over the festive period. This comes as medical experts warn of a potential third wave in the new year.
The Government's medical adviser on Covid, Dr Susan Hopkins, said on November 18 that advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) was that the price for easing measures would be heavy restrictions before and after Christmas.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma also refused to comment on whether the measures would be eased, saying it was "too early to come to conclusions".
Mr Johnson said: "What we don't want is to throw caution to the wind and allow the virus to flare up again, forcing us all back into lockdown in January."
What the new rules will mean:
There will be some limited scope for care home residents aged under 65 to go to relatives' homes for Christmas. This will be subject to a risk assessment, the agreement of the care home and social distancing as much as possible.
Over 65s in care homes will not be able to go home for Christmas.
Couples can join different bubbles - so if a husband and wife want to see their own families, each can do so, although they cannot switch between these.
However, in Scotland people living in the same house can't join different bubbles.
University students travelling back home at the end of term will count as part of their parents' household.
People flying home from red-listed countries will still have to quarantine.
Children of divorced parents will be allowed to split their time between two bubbles.
As for carol singing, guidance is expected later this week on whether we will have to withstand a silent night.
Will we be in lockdown at Christmas?
No, the government plans to ease lockdown restrictions on December 2 and transition into a three-tier system, followed by a brief relaxation of the rules between December 23 and 27.
The chief executive of the NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, has urged the Government to make Tier 3 lockdown measures the "new normal" to avoid the "disaster" of a third lockdown in January.
In his interview with The Times, Mr Hopson shared that there is a “risk” we will “swap a few days of celebration for the misery of a third wave a few weeks later”.
However, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty has urged people to avoid this by continuing to take the fight against the virus seriously over the holiday, and has wanted people not to do unnecessary things “just because you can”.
Will there be Covid rules at Christmas?
Christmas lockdown-specific rules were confirmed by the Government on November 24.
Once Christmas bubbles are formed they will be fixed and cannot change at any point, according to the new rules that were agreed at a COBRA meeting on November 24.
Bubbles will be able to gather in private homes, go to outdoor public spaces and attend places of worship together - but cannot meet up in bars, restaurants or other entertainment venues.
People will still be able to meet others from outside their Christmas bubble according to the rules in their tier, with support bubbles counted as one household.
"We realise this isn't going to work for everyone but we need to avoid the virus spreading in a significant way again," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.
"This is a balance between increasing some social contact and the need to keep transmission of the virus as low as possible."
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, made clear that restrictions will be imposed, telling a press conference at 10 Downing Street that it would be "an approach that keeps people safe as well as recognising the importance of Christmas and the importance of seeing our loved ones over Christmas".
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has also spoken out about what we can expect over the festive period, saying, “I don’t want to be the Grinch that stole Christmas". But he went on to add: "More than anything I want us to get through this Covid and try and get this country back to normal.”
Can I still meet other households and see my family at Christmas?
Yes, as long as it is during the five-day break.
Under Government plans to rescue Christmas, families will be able to enjoy Christmas together from December 23 to December 27, as long as they remain within the household limit set by the government.
On November 24, the Government confirmed that up to three households can meet indoors, meaning families will be able to have both sets of grandparents to stay.
Read more: Christmas gift guide - best ideas for 2020
Grottos allowed, but no sitting on Santa's lap
Grottos will be allowed to open across all tiers, new government guidance confirms, but sitting on Santa’s lap will be banned.
Venues must put in place appropriate Covid-secure measures and families will be required to maintain social distancing from Father Christmas.
Door-to-door carol singing and carol services will also be permitted outdoors or in large well-ventilated settings. Singers must also follow social distancing rules. The Government has provided a guide to safer singing to ensure that rules are kept to during performances.
However, those in Tier 3 will not be able to attend school nativity plays and will have to live stream or watch a recording instead.
Performances will need to be within existing school bubbles, with no mixing across groups.
In Tiers 1 and 2 audiences will be able to attend “subject to appropriate safeguards being in place”.
Can I travel abroad over Christmas?
The green list of travel corridor countries, which Britons can visit without needing to self-isolate upon return, is shrinking, but quarantine will be lifted for those who test negative for Covid-19 on the fifth day of isolation.
This means that families can travel to high-risk “red list” countries to visit relatives over the festive period without necessarily having to quarantine for two weeks on their return.
Travel corridors and travel restrictions are continuously reassessed based on the rise in cases and R rates, among other factors. While the official guidance discourages all non-essential travel, you may still be allowed to travel internationally - as long as you are aware of the risks and restrictions.
Travelling against official government advice is not illegal, but most tour operators will not offer trips to destinations which the Foreign Office (FCO) deems unsafe. In a pandemic, that's just about everywhere - and it does make travel insurance complicated.
If you choose to visit a country to which the FCO advises against travel without invalidating your insurance - here's what you need to know.
How to have a Covid-secure Christmas
To ensure family gatherings at Christmas are as safe as they can be, it will be important to adhere Government guidelines.
It would probably be best to also do your Christmas shopping early for both gifts and food, to avoid the Christmas Eve rush to the supermarket or late package deliveries.
Since families are likely to spend more time at home this year, make the most of it by creating your own Christmas decorations or playing Elf on the Shelf. But most of all, try not to be miserable this Christmas - and to focus on your mental and physical wellbeing as much as the situation allows.
What will Christmas be like during coronavirus?
Although Christmas may not be what we are used to this year, the five-day festive break brings positive news as people are able to celebrate together.
However, the Cabinet Office urged people to still meet family and friends in a "careful and limited way, while recognising that this will not be a normal festive period and the risks of transmission remain very real".
What we do know: expect a mask and hand sanitiser under the tree.
Read more: Best unusual and quirky gift ideas for Christmas 2020
