The leader of a London borough has said he has "no choice" but to tell schools to stay open following threats of legal action from the government.
Greenwich council's Danny Thorpe insisted it was not the "correct choice" but that he could not "justify the use of public funds to fight the decision in the courts".
Several schools in the capital, which tomorrow is going into Tier 3 - the highest band of coronavirus restrictions - have said they want to move to online learning for the rest of the term due to rising COVID-19 rates.
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Infections are said to be increasing quickest among those aged 10-19, with the government promising to roll out mass testing to schools in some boroughs to counter the spread in the run up to Christmas.
Image:Some schools wanted to move to virtual learning for the rest of the term
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But that is taking time and there are fears children could pass on the virus to vulnerable family members during the five day rule relaxation where people from three households can socialise at home together from 23-27 December.
Three London councils - Greenwich in the south, Islington in the north and Waltham Forest in the east - had urged schools to shut early to help curb a resurgence of cases.
And mayor Sadiq Khan said Prime Minister Boris Johnson should consider letting all secondary schools and colleges in the city close early and allow them to re-open later in January.
Image:Closing schools at short notice could pose childcare problems for parents
But the government has resisted those calls, with Mr Williamson saying yesterday: "It is simply not in children's best interests for schools in Greenwich, Islington or elsewhere to close their doors."
Now Mr Thorpe has said schools in Greenwich should stay open - despite COVID-19 cases "rising rapidly" locally.
"The action we took on Sunday was based solely on doing the right thing for our borough, not a protracted legal argument with the government, which absolutely nobody needs at the end of an extremely difficult term," he explained.
Geoff Barton, leader of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the government had won a "hollow victory", resulting in an "unseemly end to a gruelling and exhausting term when schools at the very least deserved some flexibility over their end-of-term arrangements".
Image:A union leader called it an 'unseemly end to a gruelling and exhausting term'
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, said it was "right" for schools to stay open.
"Arranging child care at short notice - we could be taking doctors, nurses off shift, out of vaccination clinics, inadvertently shooting ourselves in the foot," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It's a difficult balance to get right. We need clarity and consistency, not last-minute decisions."
The latest figures show 80% of secondary school pupils were in school last week - meaning one in five were not, with 0.8% of schools closed altogether.
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The leader of Greenwich Council has said he has "no choice" but to ask schools to remain open threats of legal action from the government.
The authority wrote to head teachers asking for classes to move online from Tuesday amid rising Covid-19 cases.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson ordered the council to keep all schools open until the end of term.
Council leader Danny Thorpe said he could not justify using public funds to fight the decision in the courts.
In a statement, the Labour councillor said he did not agree that it was right to keep schools open but said he had "no choice but to ask our schools to keep their doors open to all students rather than just continuing with online learning".
London, most of Essex and parts of Hertfordshire will move into England's highest tier of Covid restrictions on Wednesday due to a rise in infections.
Schools in England were told they could close a day early for Christmas last week to give staff a "proper break" from identifying potential coronavirus cases.
In Basildon, where the third-highest Covid rate was recorded, schools were also allowed to close early, while London's mayor Sadiq Khan has called on secondary schools and colleges in the capital to follow suit.
In a letter to parents, Mr Thorpe said on Friday, there were 3,670 children self isolating and 314 teaching staff. On Monday, an additional 498 children had to self isolate.
"My motivation has never been about a legal battle with the government, as frankly we all have enough to do. Based on the information I had before me, I believed that this was the correct course of action for Royal Greenwich," he said.
Mr Thorpe added that the Department of Health & Social Care had agreed that any resident could access a Covid-19 test, whether they were showing symptoms or not.
"This is a real step change from the current position and one that will benefit all of us locally," he added.
A NEW Covid strain which may spread even quicker is ripping through the South - as Matt Hancock last night plunged 11million more Brits into Tier 3.
The Health Secretary told MPs more than 1,000 cases of the new "variant" has been discovered in up to 60 places across the UK - and the World Health Organisation has been informed.
Brits in those areas can't see friends and family they don't live with indoors or outdoors - unless they are in a support bubble.
But shops, gyms and schools will remain open.
Pubs and restaurants will be forced to shut, except for takeaway and delivery.
Mr Hancock last night urged Londoners to follow the example of Liverpool and Manchester to drive the virus down again.
It comes as:
In a bombshell announcement, Mr Hancock said the mutation was spreading at a quicker pace than the original virus.
But experts stressed that the new strain was not the cause of the tier changes.
Mr Hancock said: "We have identified a new variant of coronavirus which may be associated with the faster spread in South East England.
"It is growing faster than existing variants, with over 1,000 cases.
He told the Commons: "Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing variants."
There are over 60 areas affected, which is "growing rapidly" and similar strains have been identified in other countries, he said.
He added: "We've seen very sharp exponential rises of the virus across London, Kent parts of Essex and Hertfordshire.
"We must take fast and decisive action."
At last night's press conference he said the "rise in transmission and this new variant should be a warning to all" that "personal responsibility" was needed going into Christmas.
He warned: "Respect the rules where you are, don’t ease up on simple things.
"When the virus is growing exponentially, there is not a moment to spare."
Mr Hancock begged everyone to reduce their social contacts in the next few weeks to crack down on cases.
He also recommended Brits self-isolate as much as they can before seeing elderly or other vulnerable relatives over Christmas.
He told the Downing Street press conference: "Be extremely careful now about who you see. That's the way to see loved ones in a socially distanced way."
The new measures take the total number of people in Tier 3 in England to 34million, and he suggested more areas could be plunged into the highest tier later this week too.
There are hopes some areas in the North could be downgraded to Tier 2, which currently covers 21.5million.
He said: "This moment is a salutary warning for the whole country.
"This isn't over yet."
Professor Whitty insisted it was difficult to know if the new variant was spreading quicker or not - and that it would be "surprising but not impossible" it would not react to a vaccine.
And he suggested the reason Tier 3 has not worked in areas like Kent was because London - where many people travel in and out for work - was still in Tier 2.
He said there was no point in surrounding counties being in a higher tier than London while the captial's cases are rising so quickly.
However, he slapped down suggestions that the reason the Tiers were being ramped up was because of the new strain - and insisted that cases were rising across the board.
The World Health Organsiation and Public Health England are continuing to look into the new killer strain.
But there was no evidence to suggest the mutation is more deadly.
TOP scientists have urged Brits not to panic over the new strain of Covid.
Virus experts Prof Alan McNally and Dr Jeremy Farrar both played down the threat of the latest mutation.
Prof McInally, from the University of Birmingham, said: “It is important to keep a calm and rational perspective on the strain as this is normal virus evolution and we expect new variants to come and go and emerge over time.
“It’s too early to be worried or not by this new variant, but I am in awe of the surveillance efforts in the UK that allowed this to be picked up so fast.”
Dr Farrar, from the Wellcome Trust, added: “This is to be expected. The pressure on the virus to evolve is increased by the fact that millions of people have now been infected.”
Chris Whitty warned that it was 'very important we take rapid action to bring this back down again'
Matt Hancock told MPs of the news this afternoon
Full list of places going into Tier 3 from Wednesday
S & W Essex:
Basildon
Brentwood
Harlow
Epping Forest
Castle Point
Rochford
Braintree & Chelmsford
Thurrock and South End on Sea Borough councils
Maldon
Hertfordshire:
Broxbourne
Heartsmere
Watford and the three river local authority
All of London
Mr Hancock said: "It shows we've got to be vigilant and follow the rules and everyone needs to take personal responsibility not to spread this virus," he said.
He added that in some areas the doubling time of the number of new cases is as short as seven days.
The strain was first detected in Kent last week - and it's not yet known if it's a home-grown mutation or has come in from abroad.
And it's understood that two weeks of lab testing is needed for experts to be completely sure that it will still be able to be tackled by the vaccine.
Prof Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, University of Nottingham, said it was too early to draw any conclusions yet and stressed it could be by chance.
He said: “The genetic information in many viruses can change very rapidly and sometimes these changes can benefit the virus – by allowing it to transmit more efficiently or to escape from vaccines or treatments – but many changes have no effect at all.
“Even though a new genetic variant of the virus has emerged and is spreading in many parts of the UK and across the world, this can happen purely by chance.
"Therefore, it is important that we study any genetic changes as they occur, to work out if they are affecting how the virus behaves, and until we have done that important work it is premature to make any claims about the potential impacts of virus mutation."
TRAVEL SAFE
Alan McNally, a professor in microbial evolutionary genomics at the University of Birmingham, stressed that Brits should remain "calm and rational" following the news.
He said: "Huge efforts are ongoing at characterising the variant and understanding its emergence.
"It is important to keep a calm and rational perspective on the strain as this is normal virus evolution and we expect new variants to come and go and emerge over time.
"It's too early to be worried or not by this new variant, but I am in awe of the surveillance efforts in the UK that allowed this to be picked up so fast."
The decision to put the capital in Tier 3 came three days earlier than expected because ministers and officials were shocked by rising cases.
Experts said the main driver behind the spike was Christmas shopping and increased socialising.
Mr Hancock suggested Londoners should avoid Oxford Street and shop for their gifts online to help stop the spread of the virus.
And he said travel to and within Tier 3 areas is discouraged.
The Health sec said: "It is recommended that people should minimise travel unless it is necessary in a Tier 3 area and should minimise travel where it is necessary to a Tier 3 area."
In a press conference alongside Professor Chris Whitty, he said cases were rising across all age groups - not just young people.
Infection rates have rocketed “exponentially” in all boroughs apart from Kensington and Chelsea, and cases are now "off the charts", politicians were told.
London's numbers vary significantly across its 32 boroughs but its weekly 225 per 100,000 people case toll is the highest regional rate in the country.
Its hospital occupancy now stands at 93 per cent, too, with MPs worried about the impact in January, one of the busiest times of the year.
Mr Hancock told MPs the case rate in over-60s is 250 per 100,000 and rising - showing it's not just kids who are getting infected.
He also said that average daily hospital admissions in the area were up 13 per cent, average daily cases have risen by 14 per cent in the last week.
Before the surge in infections in the last few days, the earliest London was expected to go into Tier 3 was December 19, a few days after the review on December 16.
But the timetable has been dramatically hauled forward, with scientists and ministers believing more urgent action is needed to stop the sudden spiral in cases.
Last week Mr Hancock announced mobile testing units to be ordered into schools in London and the South East over soaring cases.
The health horror stats have spooked ministers who are desperate to stamp down cases before the Christmas lockdown amnesty kicks in, and cases are likely to rocket.
Covid hospitalisations in England continue to rise - after a drop following the lockdown
Mr Khan warned it was possible Tier 3 could be announced today
'DEVASTATING'
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "This is incredibly disappointing for our businesses who have suffered so much already this year. But it’s clear that the virus is accelerating in the wrong direction once again across London and the lives of Londoners are at risk."
And Kensington and Chelsea MP Felicity Buchan - whose area is the only one not to have seen a rise in cases - argued for London to be treated as boroughs rather than a whole.
The Tier 3 will be another harsh blow to pubs and restaurants. who have already been struggling for months.
One pub landlord, Gary Murphy, who owns Ye Olde Mitre Inne in North London told Sky News he was "devastated" at the decision.
He said: "We've done everything we possibly can and here we are again, closed down.
"I would love to see us being part of the solution, rather than the solution.
"I've got a load of stock downstairs.. I'm going to have a load leftover unless I can persuade the people of Barnet to have a last drink tonight.
"Lots of beer will be going down the drain."
Mr Murphy said the coronavirus crisis has been "unbelievably bad" for his pub.
"We have lost half a million in turnover. I've had no income since March. We really are struggling."
TOUGHER TIERS?
And in a bombshell intervention, health bosses have floated plans to toughen up Tier 3 amid fears the restrictions do not do enough to curb rates - but ministers have not signed up to the idea yet.
Public health chiefs told MPs this morning that more needed to be done, and Tier 3 was not having an impact in areas such as Kent.
It's not yet clear whether ministers are considering it.
Downing Street said this lunchtime the Tiers system had already been set out, but refused to deny it could be changed.
Tier 3 already sees shops, hairdressers and gyms remain open.
London's shops were packed with people over the weekendCredit: Rex Features
Boris Johnson led a "Covid O" meeting today to decide on London measuresCredit: Andrew Parsons
SCHOOL'S OUT?
And Mr Khan has demanded schools be closed yet again to crack down on cases.
The move would force hundreds of thousands of pupils to study online and comes after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson's vowed to keep kids in school.
He revealed there has been a 75 per cent surge in coronavirus cases across the capital, but put it down largely to kids between the age of 10 to 19-years-old.
"I don't see many 10 to 19-year-olds in pubs, bars, restaurants," Mr Khan said, as he urged the Government to close schools a few days early rather than punishing the hospitality sector.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, he said "urgent consideration must...be given to closing secondary schools, sixth form and FE colleges a few days early and keeping them closed for longer after Christmas".
"With significant outbreaks among 10 to 19-year-olds, the Government must consider asking schools and colleges to close early and re-open later in January, with extra resource provided to support online learning."
Councils for the London boroughs of Greenwich and Islington have told schools in their areas to close early and move to online learning because of the surge in cases in kids.
Schools in the area will stay open for kids of key workers and vulnerable pupils.
Downing Street has said schools are expected to stay open until the end of term.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We've consistently said that not being in school has a detrimental impact on children's learning as well as their own personal development and mental health.
"Which is why we expect all schools and colleges to remain open until the end of term on Thursday, as schools have remained open throughout the pandemic."
He declined to comment on whether any action would be taken against them if they defied orders.
MPs were told by health ministers that schools would not be closed - and that shutting them would mean teenagers hanging around in shopping centres and other areas spreading the virus instead.
But another MP said: "Secondary schools should close today and go into remote learning."
Mr Khan has also demanded all workers who can't stay home be tested and for people to wear face coverings outside in public spaces too.
LONDON-WIDE COVID SURGE
The average number of new cases over seven-days has risen in 32 local authority areas.
And there are 17 boroughs where the infection rate has jumped above 200 cases per 100,000.
According to the latest figures, the borough of Havering has the highest coronavirus rate in London, with 1,314 new cases recorded in the seven days to December 9 - the equivalent of 506.3 cases per 100,000 people.
This is up from a rate of 321.3 in the seven days to December 2.
Matt Hancock confirms Greater London the South and West of Essex and South of Hertfordshire move to Tier 3
The government is coming under increasing pressure to rethink its relaxation of coronavirus rules over Christmas.
Two prominent medical journals have said ministers should "follow the more cautious examples of Germany, Italy and the Netherlands" and not ease COVID-19 restrictions over the festive period.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has also called for ministers to think again.
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'Balance to be struck' over Xmas guidelines
Under plans agreed with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, up to three households will be able to form a "Christmas bubble" and meet between 23 and 27 December.
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In a rare joint editorial, the British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said the government should "reverse its rash decision to allow household mixing and instead extend the tiers over the five-day Christmas period".
They said this would "bring numbers down in the advance of a likely third wave."
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The government is "about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives", the journals went on to warn.
"When government devised the current plans to allow household mixing over Christmas it had assumed the COVID-19 demand on the NHS would be decreasing.
"But it is not, it is rising, and the emergence of a new strain of the virus has introduced further potential jeopardy.
"Members of the public can and should mitigate the impact of the third wave by being as careful as possible over the next few months. But many will see the lifting of restrictions over Christmas as permission to drop their guard."
Are you changing your Christmas plans? Get in touch with Sky News :: WhatsApp - 07583 000853 :: Email - sky.today@sky.uk :: 'Your Report' on Sky News apps
And the London mayor has joined calls for a change in approach, telling Sky News: "What I'd say to the government is I'm not sure you've got it right, in fact I'm sure you haven't got it right in relation to the relaxations over Christmas."
Mr Khan added: "If they don't change the rules, my message to your viewers is we're under no obligation to do all that's allowed, there's no reason you have to kiss or hug an older relation."
It comes after a minister told Britons they should "do the minimum" if they visit family over Christmas, despite the COVID-19 rules being relaxed.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay told Sky News that people "shouldn't misinterpret" what the guidelines say.
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Hancock defends easing restrictions over Christmas
"It's not saying that people must go and see family," he said.
"It's saying that where families want to see each other, they won't be criminalised for doing so."
Rising infection rates in some parts of the country, including in London, have caused some to question the festive relaxation.
Critics of the government's approach have also queried why the capital is being moved into Tier 3 - the highest level of coronavirus restrictions - just days before the rules are relaxed again over Christmas.
Asked if these plans were being reviewed, Mr Barclay told Sky News that "all things are always kept under review".
But when asked if Christmas could be "cancelled", he replied: "No."
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Families look to minimise Christmas COVID risk
Mr Barclay said there was a "balance to be struck" as "many families have not seen each other all year".
"It is important for people's wellbeing, for their mental health," he said. "We don't want to criminalise people for coming together as family over Christmas.
"But, it is important that people do the minimum that is possible. So, people will be making their own judgments."
Mr Barclay said he would not be seeing his parents over Christmas.
Professor Devi Sridhar, chairwoman of global public health at Edinburgh University, told Sky News it is a "bad idea" to relax restrictions for Christmas.
"Scientists can only put forward that evidence... and in the end it's up to political leaders to balance that against other considerations," she said.
Professor Sridhar added that "mixing at Christmas is a terrible idea and that should be the message", adding: "We're going to pay for this at some point.
"It's not like it can just happen and that we won't bear the consequences in January and February."
England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has admitted that the relaxation of rules will lead to a rise in infections.
"All of this is about balancing the wider needs of society with the need to keep the virus under control," he told a Downing Street news conference on Monday.
"The relatively modest, actually, relaxation over Christmas will, undoubtedly, put upward pressure on the virus.
"We know that... but the feeling was this is a very important time for many families."
Professor Whitty urged people to use the relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas in a "minimalist, responsible way" in order to keep the number of cases down in early January, adding: "The key thing is people have just got to be sensible."
The government is coming under increasing pressure to rethink its relaxation of coronavirus rules over Christmas.
Two prominent medical journals have said ministers should "follow the more cautious examples of Germany, Italy and the Netherlands" and not ease restrictions over the festive period.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
'Balance to be struck' over Xmas guidelines
In a rare joint editorial, the British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said the government should "reverse its rash decision to allow household mixing and instead extend the tiers over the five-day Christmas period in order to bring numbers down in the advance of a likely third wave".
London mayor Sadiq Khan has also called for ministers to think again.
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"What I'd say to the government is I'm not sure you've got it right, in fact I'm sure you haven't got it right in relation to the relaxations over Christmas," he told Sky News.
More from Covid-19
Under plans agreed with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, up to three households will be able to form a "Christmas bubble" and meet between 23 and 27 December.
Mr Khan added: "If they don't change the rules, my message to your viewers is we're under no obligation to do all that's allowed, there's no reason you have to kiss or hug an older relation."
It comes after a minister told Britons they should "do the minimum" if they visit family over Christmas, despite the COVID-19 rules being relaxed.
Are you changing your Christmas plans? Get in touch with Sky News :: WhatsApp - 07583 000853 :: Email - sky.today@sky.uk :: 'Your Report' on Sky News apps
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay told Sky News that people "shouldn't misinterpret" what the guidelines say.
"It's not saying that people must go and see family," he said.
"It's saying that where families want to see each other, they won't be criminalised for doing so."
Rising infection rates in some parts of the country, including in London, have caused some to question the festive relaxation.
Critics of the government's approach have also queried why the capital is being moved into Tier 3 - the highest level of coronavirus restrictions - just days before the rules are relaxed again over Christmas.
Asked if these plans were being reviewed, Mr Barclay told Sky News that "all things are always kept under review".
But when asked if Christmas could be "cancelled", he replied: "No."
Mr Barclay said there was a "balance to be struck" as "many families have not seen each other all year".
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Hancock defends easing restrictions over Christmas
"It is important for people's wellbeing, for their mental health," he said. "We don't want to criminalise people for coming together as family over Christmas.
"But, it is important that people do the minimum that is possible. So, people will be making their own judgments."
Mr Barclay said he would not be seeing his parents over Christmas.
Professor Devi Sridhar, chairwoman of global public health at Edinburgh University, told Sky News it is a "bad idea" to relax restrictions for Christmas.
"Scientists can only put forward that evidence... and in the end it's up to political leaders to balance that against other considerations," she said.
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Families look to minimise Christmas COVID risk
Professor Sridhar added that "mixing at Christmas is a terrible idea and that should be the message", adding: "We're going to pay for this at some point.
"It's not like it can just happen and that we won't bear the consequences in January and February."
Professor Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, said: "Right now we are heading towards disaster.
"Given high levels of infection across the country and the increasing levels in some areas [such as London] it is inevitable that if we all do choose to meet up over Christmas then we will pay the price in the new year."
England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has admitted that the relaxation of rules will lead to a rise in infections.
"All of this is about balancing the wider needs of society with the need to keep the virus under control," he told a Downing Street news conference on Monday.
"The relatively modest, actually, relaxation over Christmas will, undoubtedly, put upward pressure on the virus.
"We know that... but the feeling was this is a very important time for many families."
Professor Whitty urged people to use the relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas in a "minimalist, responsible way" in order to keep the number of cases down in early January, adding: "The key thing is people have just got to be sensible."
Britons have been told to "do the minimum" if they visit family over Christmas, despite coronavirus rules being relaxed over the festive period.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay told Sky News that people "shouldn't misinterpret" what the COVID-19 guidelines say.
It comes as London mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News that ministers should rethink the relaxation of the rules, saying he would "encourage the government to look at their rules over Christmas".
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'I'm sure you've got it wrong' Khan tells government
"What I'd say to the government is I'm not sure you've got it right, in fact I'm sure you haven't got it right in relation to the relaxations over Christmas," he said.
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Under plans agreed with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, up to three households will be able to form a "Christmas bubble" and meet between 23 and 27 December.
But discussing that guidance, Mr Barclay said: "It's not saying that people must go and see family.
More from Covid-19
"It's saying that where families want to see each other, they won't be criminalised for doing so."
Rising infection rates in some parts of the country, including in London, have caused some to question the festive relaxation.
Are you changing your Christmas plans? Get in touch with Sky News :: WhatsApp - 07583 000853 :: Email - sky.today@sky.uk :: 'Your Report' on Sky News apps
Critics of the government's approach have also queried why the capital is being moved into Tier 3 - the highest level of coronavirus restrictions - just days before the rules are relaxed again over Christmas.
Asked if these plans were being reviewed, Mr Barclay told Sky News that "all things are always kept under review".
But when asked if Christmas could be "cancelled", he replied: "No."
Mr Barclay said there was a "balance to be struck" as "many families have not seen each other all year".
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Hancock defends easing restrictions over Christmas
"It is important for people's wellbeing, for their mental health," he said. "We don't want to criminalise people for coming together as family over Christmas.
"But, it is important that people do the minimum that is possible. So, people will be making their own judgments."
Mr Barclay said he would not be seeing his parents over Christmas.
Professor Devi Sridhar, chairwoman of global public health at Edinburgh University, told Sky News it is a "bad idea" to relax restrictions for Christmas.
"Scientists can only put forward that evidence...and in the end it's up to political leaders to balance that against other considerations," she said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Families look to minimise Christmas COVID risk
Professor Sridhar added that "mixing at Christmas is a terrible idea and that should be the message", adding: "We're going to pay for this at some point.
"It's not like it can just happen and that we won't bear the consequences in January and February."
Professor Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, said: "Right now we are heading towards disaster.
"Given high levels of infection across the country and the increasing levels in some areas [such as London] it is inevitable that if we all do choose to meet up over Christmas then we will pay the price in the new year."
England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has admitted that the relaxation of rules will lead to a rise in infections.
"All of this is about balancing the wider needs of society with the need to keep the virus under control," he told a Downing Street news conference on Monday.
"The relatively modest, actually, relaxation over Christmas will, undoubtedly, put upward pressure on the virus.
"We know that... but the feeling was this is a very important time for many families."
Prof Whitty urged people to use the relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas in a "minimalist, responsible way" in order to keep the number of cases down in early January, adding: "The key thing is people have just got to be sensible."
Scientists warn 'we are heading towards disaster' and 'we will pay the price in the New Year' for easing of rules over Christmas
Scientists have warned that the easing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas will cause a spike in infections, as London and some surrounding areas prepare to enter Tier 3.
The capital and parts of the commuter belt will be placed under the toughest measures - forcing the closure of hospitality - from Wednesday following a "very sharp" rise in cases.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said higher infections in the South East may be in part due to a newly identified variant of coronavirus which is growing faster than the existing one - sparking fresh concerns over plans to allow up to three households to mix indoors from December 23 to 27 with fears the country will "pay the price" in the new year.
David Nabarro, a World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy working on COVID-19, said the price of such a relaxation "could well be very high".
Urging people to think carefully about their plans, he told Times Radio: "Just ask yourself, is there any way in which you can perhaps not have the family get-togethers this year?
"It's much better not to do it when there's this kind of virus about."
Professor Stephen Reicher, of the University of St Andrews, said: "Right now we are heading towards disaster.
"Given high levels of infection across the country and the increasing levels in some areas (such as London) it is inevitable that if we all do choose to meet up over Christmas then we will pay the price in the new year."
