Covid-19: Three households can mix over Christmas in UK

Up to three households will be able to meet up during a five-day Christmas period of 23-27 December, leaders of the four UK nations have agreed.

People can mix indoors in homes, places of worship and outdoor spaces, and travel restrictions will also be eased.

But existing rules on hospitality and venues will remain and the "Christmas bubble" formed must be "exclusive".

The leaders urged people to "think carefully about what they do" to keep the risk of increased transmission low.

They added 2020 "cannot be a normal Christmas" but family and friends will be able to see each other in a "limited and cautious" way.

The measures will see travel restrictions across the four nations, and between tiers, lifted to allow people to visit families in other parts of the UK.

And people in Northern Ireland will be given an extra day either side of the five-day period to allow them more time to travel.

People will not be able to get together with others from more than two other households and, once a bubble is formed, it must not be changed or be extended further.

The leaders of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reached the agreement at a meeting of the UK government's emergency committee, Cobra, on Tuesday afternoon.

In a joint statement, they said: "Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over Christmas will be a personal judgement for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable.

"Before deciding to come together over the festive period we urge the consideration of alternative approaches such as the use of technology or meeting outside."

Published guidance for England gives further details of the rules for the festive season and states:

Full detailed guidance for Scotland is yet to be published but current advice says that:

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove said people would be able to "enjoy something closer to a normal Christmas".

He said it was an opportunity for people to "meet close friends and family in a very restricted fashion, in order to ensure that those we love can be with us at this special season".

Mr Gove added: "We all know that Christmas this year won't be as it has been in years past. But all the governments agreed we should balance the need to protect public health with also allowing people to be with their loved ones."

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "People will be allowed to do what the law will allow them to do, but this is not an instruction to travel, it's not an instruction to meet with other people. People should still use a sense of responsibility."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added: "The virus is not going to be taking Christmas off, so although we want to give a little bit of flexibility for Christmas we are still urging people to be very cautious and to use this flexibility responsibly and only if you think it is necessary."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the announcement saying she hoped it would give people space to plan.

She added it was difficult to "balance" Christmas festivities with managing the spread of the virus.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it was a "message of hope", but urged people to be responsible, safe and mindful of healthcare workers.

What to do about Christmas divides opinion.

Increased mixing indoors will certainly mean there is greater transmission of the virus.

But, as chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said on Monday, there is a balance to be struck between the harm the virus can cause and the societal and economic impacts of trying to control it.

He called for a "public-spirited approach".

By that he means adhering to the restrictions in the lead up to Christmas, being responsible with the opportunity the relaxation gives people and then immediately switching back to compliance.

If that happens any impact could be minimised - and, of course, it will be up to individuals to decide just how much they mix within the rules.

These are very fine judgement calls by ministers.

They hope Christmas will provide respite and help steel the public for what is clearly going to be a long, hard winter.

They also feel they have little choice, believing large numbers of people would ignore pleas not to mix and this way they can provide advice on how to enjoy Christmas as safely as possible.

But there is also the risk by sanctioning it there will be more mixing than there would have otherwise been.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged there would be risks of letting people meet over Christmas but said families should have the chance to reunite.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps earlier said Christmas travellers should plan journeys carefully and prepare for restrictions on passenger numbers.

The government has recorded another 608 UK deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid test. There have also been a further 11,299 cases of people testing positive for coronavirus.