Lockdown rules could be eased for a 5-day window over the Christmas period, reports claim. According to The Sun, the alleged five-day lockdown break would allow families to gather between Christmas Eve and the Boxing Day bank holiday on December 28th. The rule-break could allow up to four households to mix together for the short festive period, allowing families to reunite after nine months of virus restrictions.
Sage, The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, are reportedly modelling how more than six people mixing would affect COVID-19 rates over the festive period.
Talking on BBC Radio 4, Professor Neil Ferguson, whose model led to the March lockdown, has said the current proposal would increase the risk of coronavirus but in a “controllable way”.
He said: “There are ways of going part way which still reduce the risk – basically extending what are called bubbles – social bubbles, support bubbles,”
“You could think of allowing three or four households to bubble together for a week but not contact anybody else, which would give more opportunity to see loved ones but not a free-for-all.”
Number 10 has said to both The Express and The Sun that “We are looking at ways to ensure that people can spend time with close family over Christmas at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year.” Boris Johnson, however, won’t be signing off on anything until next month.
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