Covid-19: Christmas rules tightened for England, Scotland and Wales - BBC News

The planned relaxation of Covid rules for Christmas has been scrapped for large parts of south-east England and cut to just Christmas Day for the rest of England, Scotland and Wales.

From midnight, a new tier four will be introduced in areas including London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire.

Elsewhere in England, Scotland and Wales, relaxed indoor mixing rules are cut from five days to Christmas Day.

Those in tier four cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household.

• What is tier four and who is in it?
• Should you see your family at Christmas?
• Postcode check: Find out the rules where you live

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the changes for England at a Downing Street briefing after scientists said a new coronavirus variant is spreading more rapidly.

Tier-four restrictions - similar to England's second national lockdown - will apply in all areas in the South East currently in tier three, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.

It will also apply in London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England (Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).

In Scotland, Covid restrictions will only be relaxed on Christmas Day, with mainland Scotland being placed under the tightest restrictions from Boxing Day.

In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that the country will be placed under lockdown from midnight.

There are no plans at the moment to change the current Christmas restrictions in Northern Ireland, BBC News NI understands. The country is set to enter a six-week lockdown from 26 December.

For tier-four areas in England, a stay-at-home order has been issued, with exemptions for those who have to travel to work or for education.

Social mixing will be cut to meeting one person in an open public space.

All non-essential retail will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars, indoor gyms and leisure facilities.

People will be advised not to travel into a tier four area.

The restrictions will last for two weeks, with the first review due on 30 December.

• NHS pressure 'at a really dangerous point'
• UK's R number back above one

Mr Johnson told the Downing Street briefing: "I know how disappointing this will be, but we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science.

"When the science changes, we must change our response. When the virus changes its methods of attack we must change our method of defence and as your prime minister I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me."

The steep increase in the proportion of coronavirus cases linked to this new variant is strong evidence that it is driving transmission.

In London, 28% of cases were as a result of this new mutation in mid-November, but that has now increased to more than 60%.

It may explain why, during the second lockdown, cases started to increase in London, while in Kent the tier three measures appear to have had little impact in recent weeks.

As England's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty says, this is a bad moment, but there is also some hope.

Mutations happen all the time - there have been thousands of variations to this coronavirus since it emerged - and there is nothing to suggest this causes more serious illness or will hamper the effectiveness of the vaccine.

The prime minister announced 350,000 people had been given the first dose of the vaccine in the first two weeks of the programme.

In the coming weeks, the number of GP-led vaccination clinics should increase six-fold, while approval of a second vaccine made by Oxford University could pave the way for mass vaccination centres to be set up in sports stadiums and conference centres.

That could see two million people a week being vaccinated. Within a matter of months all the over-65s could have been offered a jab. This could then start to feel very different.

But for now, the slog of the pandemic continues - and for many it just got harder.

Mr Johnson said analysis from New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) suggests the new variant could increase the R number - or reproductive rate of the virus - by 0.4 or more.

Although there is "considerable uncertainty", it may be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant, he said.

England's Chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said that while the new variant of coronavirus will make things much worse, if the vaccine works against it there was room for optimism.

He has previously said there is no current evidence to suggest the new variant causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments.

Speaking at the Downing Street briefing, he added: "I think this is a situation which is going to make things a lot worse, but there are some really optimistic things if you look once we get the vaccine out, assuming the vaccine works against this, which at the moment is the working assumption."

Mr Johnson revealed that 350,000 people in the UK have so far received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

• SOCIAL DISTANCING: Can I give my friends a hug?
• FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one?
• TESTING: How do I get a virus test?
• SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "millions of families will be heartbroken by having Christmas plans ripped up".

This week he called for the government to "review" and "toughen up" the planned relaxation of Covid restrictions over Christmas.

"Today's announcement will only lead to confusion when people need certainty," he said.

• CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ON BBC IPLAYER: 110 festive favourites to get you in the Christmas mood
• THE NIGHT MANAGER: Start watching John le Carré's twisted spy thriller

How will these latest restrictions affect your plans for Christmas? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiJmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLTU1Mzc5MjIw0gEqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYW1wL3VrLTU1Mzc5MjIw?oc=5

2020-12-19 17:52:00Z
52781247698161

MPs demand parliament is recalled to vote on cancelling Christmas - Daily Mail

MPs demand parliament is recalled to vote on cancelling Christmas after they were promised a say on new measures

• PM Boris Johnson imposed tighter coronavirus controls over Christmas
• The cancellation of plans aims to curb a new, more infectious coronavirus strain
• MP Mark Harper called for Parliament to be recalled to vote on the cancellation
• Mr Harper said it was a 'very sad day', saying that the system of tiered restrictions had 'failed in their goal of slowing the transmission of Covid.'

By Chris Jewers For Mailonline and Wires

Published: 17:48 GMT, 19 December 2020 | Updated: 17:53 GMT, 19 December 2020

MPs are demanding parliament is recalled to vote on cancelling Christmas after they were promised a say on any new measures.

On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed tighter coronavirus controls on millions of people in England and drastically scaled back plans to ease restrictions over Christmas.

The cancellation of plans and introduction of a new Tier 4 seeks to curb a new more infectious strain of the virus, Johnson explained during a press briefing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference inside 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, December 19, 2020, where he announced plans to relax 

Mark Harper, the chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs which has been highly critical of the Government's strategy, called for Parliament be recalled so MPs could debate and vote on the changes. 

'Given the 3 tier system and the initial Christmas household rules were expressly authorised by the House of Commons, these changes must also be put to a vote in the Commons at the earliest opportunity, even if that means a recall of the House,' he said.

Mr Harper called the announcement a 'very sad day', saying that the system of tiered restrictions had 'failed in their goal of slowing the transmission of Covid.' 

'Government is expecting people to sacrifice the chance to share Christmas with family, friends and loved ones, just a few days after promising the opposite,' he continued.

'If the Government wants the support of the public and Parliament, it must publish a clear exit strategy from this nightmarish, cycle of damaging lockdowns and restrictions.'

The number of cases in England has soared in the last two weeks because of a variant of the virus that scientists said is up to 70% more transmissible. Johnson said the government had to take urgent action.

'It is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,' Johnson told a news conference. 'I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me.'

London and southeast England - about a third of the English population - are currently in the highest level of a three-tier system of rules but will now be placed in a new Tier 4 level.

MP Mark Harper (pictured) said it was a 'very sad day', saying that the system of tiered restrictions had 'failed in their goal of slowing the transmission of Covid'

What are the new Tier 4 rules? 

The Tier 4 rules will be essentially the same as the blanket lockdown that England was under in November. 

Non-essential retail must close, as well as leisure facilities, and personal care such as hairdressers. 

However, places of worship can stay open. 

People in other Tiers will be advised not to go into the highest bracket areas, while residents of Tier 4 must not stay overnight in lower infection spots. 

Advertisement

People in that tier will be required to stay at home except for essential reasons such as work, and non-essential retail will close, as will indoor leisure and entertainment. Social mixing will be limited to meeting one other person in an outdoor space.

Johnson had said on Friday he hoped England would not need a third lockdown after Christmas.

He had also resisted calls to change plans to ease restrictions for five days over the festive period and allow three separate households to meet indoors. He said on Wednesday it would be 'frankly inhuman' to ban Christmas.

However, those now in Tier 4 will not be allowed to mix with others over Christmas. And all others will now only be allowed to see friends and family for one day.

The new rules will come into effect from Saturday night at midnight.

Like other countries in Europe, Britain is battling to contain the virus. Johnson's action comes after concern about a surge in cases, sparked by the new infectious strain of the virus - VUI202012/01.

It is the rate of infection that is worrying the government and its advisors.

Johnson's action comes after concern about a surge in cases, sparked by the new infectious strain of the virus - VUI202012/01. Pictured: Shoppers inside a Christmas-themed Burlington Arcade in London

'There's no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness,' Johnson said. 'Equally, there's no evidence to suggest the vaccine will be any less effective against the new variant.'

England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said authorities had alerted the World Health Organization and were continuing to analyse the available data to improve their understanding of the new strain.

Britain reported 27,052 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 534 deaths. The reproduction 'R' number is estimated to be between 1.1 and 1.2, meaning the number of cases is rapidly increasing.

'Failing to act decisively now, will mean further suffering,' Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust and a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said on Twitter.

Britain has been one of the worst hit European countries - with more than 67,000 deaths linked to coronavirus and more than 2 million cases reported.

Fury at Boris's last-minute Christmas U-turn as Britons say they'll IGNORE the new rules and complain it's 'just in time for everyone to have spent money on presents, food and booze' 

Britons have been left furious by Boris Johnson's cancellation of Christmas for millions in London and the South East with just a few days' notice.  

The PM held an emergency press conference this afternoon in which he shifted swathes of the home counties, including London, up to a new 'Tier 4'. 

That bracket includes closing non-essential shops and travel restrictions including 'stay at home' order for Christmas Day itself, even though Mr Johnson insisted just days ago that five-day festive 'bubbles' would go ahead.

The extraordinary U-turn has caused outrage among families that have already made plans, booked travel and bought food for reunions, with many taking to social media to vent their fury.

One devastated user said: 'I'm sorry but my family have spent money on food for my family who are all coming in the next few days. I see my family twice a year and I am absolutely devastated like I cannot explain how upsetting and disheartening this is.'

A defiant tweeter said: 'Already made plans and spent money to visit family, not gonna stay home alone for Christmas on 4 days notice.'

Another added: 'If you lock us all over over Christmas - meaning families who have spent hundreds of pounds preparing to see loved ones - then you have proven what an utterly incompetent leader you and your cabinet are. Shame on you.'

A fourth said: 'Strangely just in time for everyone to have spent on presents for their bubbles, food and booze orders.'

One devastated user said: 'I'm sorry but my family have spent money on food for my family who are all coming in the next few days. I see my family twice a year and I am absolutely devastated like I cannot explain how upsetting and disheartening this is.' 

A defiant tweeter said: 'Already made plans and spent money to visit family, not gonna stay home alone for Christmas on 4 days notice.'

Another added: 'If you lock us all over over Christmas - meaning families who have spent hundreds of pounds preparing to see loved ones - then you have proven what an utterly incompetent leader you and your cabinet are. Shame on you.'

A fourth said: 'Strangely just in time for everyone to have spent on presents for their bubbles, food and booze orders.'

Another said: 'After job loss, emergency international move, illness, breakdown, and everything else, I just desperately needed something to look forward to. Honeymoon fitted the bill, but was cancelled three times. Christmas was the next best thing. I spent weeks working on menus, precautions.' 

Others tried to see the funny side by sharing memes, including one depicting the Prime Minister's latest U-turn and another comparing him going round in circles to Will Ferrell's character in the Christmas film, Elf. 

Advertisement

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtOTA3MDg3Ny9NUHMtZGVtYW5kLXBhcmxpYW1lbnQtcmVjYWxsZWQtdm90ZS1jYW5jZWxsaW5nLUNocmlzdG1hcy5odG1s0gFyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHltYWlsLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYXJ0aWNsZS05MDcwODc3L2FtcC9NUHMtZGVtYW5kLXBhcmxpYW1lbnQtcmVjYWxsZWQtdm90ZS1jYW5jZWxsaW5nLUNocmlzdG1hcy5odG1s?oc=5

2020-12-19 17:48:00Z
52781253134774

Covid-19: Christmas rules tightened for England, Scotland and Wales - BBC News

The planned relaxation of Covid rules for Christmas has been scrapped for large parts of south-east England and cut to just Christmas Day for the rest of England, Scotland and Wales.

From midnight, a new tier four will be introduced in areas including London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire.

Elsewhere in England, Scotland and Wales, relaxed indoor mixing rules are cut from five days to Christmas Day.

Those in tier four cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household.

• What is tier four and who is in it?
• Should you see your family at Christmas?
• Postcode check: Find out the rules where you live

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the changes for England at a Downing Street briefing after scientists said a new coronavirus variant is spreading more rapidly.

Tier-four restrictions - similar to England's second national lockdown - will apply in all areas in the South East currently in tier three, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.

It will also apply in London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England (Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).

In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that the country will be placed under lockdown from midnight.

For tier-four areas in England, a stay-at-home order has been issued, with exemptions for those who have to travel to work or for education.

Social mixing will be cut to meeting one person in an open public space.

All non-essential retail will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars, indoor gyms and leisure facilities.

People will be advised not to travel into a tier four area.

The restrictions will last for two weeks, with the first review due on 30 December.

• NHS pressure 'at a really dangerous point'
• UK's R number back above one

Mr Johnson told the Downing Street briefing: "I know how disappointing this will be, but we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science.

"When the science changes, we must change our response. When the virus changes its methods of attack we must change our method of defence and as your prime minister I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me."

The steep increase in the proportion of coronavirus cases linked to this new variant is strong evidence that it is driving transmission.

In London, 28% of cases were as a result of this new mutation in mid-November, but that has now increased to more than 60%.

It may explain why, during the second lockdown, cases started to increase in London, while in Kent the tier three measures appear to have had little impact in recent weeks.

As England's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty says, this is a bad moment, but there is also some hope.

Mutations happen all the time - there have been thousands of variations to this coronavirus since it emerged - and there is nothing to suggest this causes more serious illness or will hamper the effectiveness of the vaccine.

The prime minister announced 350,000 people had been given the first dose of the vaccine in the first two weeks of the programme.

In the coming weeks, the number of GP-led vaccination clinics should increase six-fold, while approval of a second vaccine made by Oxford University could pave the way for mass vaccination centres to be set up in sports stadiums and conference centres.

That could see two million people a week being vaccinated. Within a matter of months all the over-65s could have been offered a jab. This could then start to feel very different.

But for now, the slog of the pandemic continues - and for many it just got harder.

Mr Johnson said the new restrictions were necessary because of the spread of a variant of coronavirus, which was transmitting faster than the original.

He said analysis from New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) suggests the new variant could increase the R number - or reproductive rate of the virus - by 0.4 or more.

Although there is "considerable uncertainty", it may be up to 70% more transmissible then the old variant, he said.

Prof Chris Whitty said that while the new strain of coronavirus will make things much worse, if the vaccine works against it there was room for optimism.

He added: "I think this is a situation which is going to make things a lot worse, but there are some really optimistic things if you look once we get the vaccine out, assuming the vaccine works against this, which at the moment is the working assumption."

Mr Johnson revealed that 350,000 people in the UK have so far received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

• SOCIAL DISTANCING: Can I give my friends a hug?
• FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one?
• TESTING: How do I get a virus test?
• SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "millions of families will be heartbroken by having Christmas plans ripped up".

This week he called for the government to "review" and "toughen up" the planned relaxation of Covid restrictions over Christmas.

"Today's announcement will only lead to confusion when people need certainty," he said.

• CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ON BBC IPLAYER: 110 festive favourites to get you in the Christmas mood
• THE NIGHT MANAGER: Start watching John le Carré's twisted spy thriller

How will these latest restrictions affect your plans for Christmas? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiJmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLTU1Mzc5MjIw0gEqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYW1wL3VrLTU1Mzc5MjIw?oc=5

2020-12-19 17:28:00Z
52781247698161

Covid-19: Christmas rules tightened for England and Wales - BBC News

The planned relaxation of Covid rules for Christmas has been scrapped for large parts of south-east England and cut to just Christmas Day for the rest of England and Wales.

From midnight, a new tier four will be introduced in areas including London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire.

For the rest of England and Wales, relaxed rules on household mixing are cut from five days to Christmas Day.

Those in tier four cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household.

• What is tier four and who is in it?
• Should you see your family at Christmas?
• Postcode check: Find out the rules where you live

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the changes for England at a Downing Street briefing after scientists said a new coronavirus variant is spreading more rapidly.

Tier-four restrictions will apply in all areas in the South East currently in tier three, covering Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings.

It will also apply in London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London) and the East of England (Bedford, Central Bedford, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).

In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced that the country will be placed under lockdown from midnight.

For tier-four areas in England, a stay-at-home order has been issued, with exemptions for those who have to travel to work or for education.

Social mixing will be cut to meeting one person in an open public space.

All non-essential retail will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars, indoor gyms and leisure facilities.

People will be advised not to travel into a tier four area.

The restrictions will last for two weeks, with the first review due on 30 December.

• NHS pressure 'at a really dangerous point'
• UK's R number back above one

Mr Johnson told the Downing Street briefing: "I know how disappointing this will be, but we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science.

"When the science changes, we must change our response. When the virus changes its methods of attack we must change our method of defence and as your prime minister I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me."

The steep increase in the proportion of coronavirus cases linked to this new variant is strong evidence that it is driving transmission.

In London, 28% of cases were as a result of this new mutation in mid-November, but that has now increased to more than 60%.

It may explain why, during the second lockdown, cases started to increase in London, while in Kent the tier three measures appear to have had little impact in recent weeks.

As England's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty says, this is a bad moment, but there is also some hope.

Mutations happen all the time - there have been thousands of variations to this coronavirus since it emerged - and there is nothing to suggest this causes more serious illness or will hamper the effectiveness of the vaccine.

The prime minister announced 350,000 people had been given the first dose of the vaccine in the first two weeks of the programme.

In the coming weeks, the number of GP-led vaccination clinics should increase six-fold, while approval of a second vaccine made by Oxford University could pave the way for mass vaccination centres to be set up in sports stadiums and conference centres.

That could see two million people a week being vaccinated. Within a matter of months all the over-65s could have been offered a jab. This could then start to feel very different.

But for now, the slog of the pandemic continues - and for many it just got harder.

Mr Johnson said the new restrictions were necessary because of the spread of a variant of coronavirus which was transmitting faster than the original.

He said analysis from New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) suggests the new variant could increase the R by 0.4 or more and although there is considerable uncertainty it may be up to 70% more transmissible then the old variant.

So far, 350,000 people in the UK have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, Mr Johnson said.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "millions of families will be heartbroken by having Christmas plans ripped up".

• SOCIAL DISTANCING: Can I give my friends a hug?
• FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one?
• TESTING: How do I get a virus test?
• SYMPTOMS: What are they and how to guard against them?

• CHRISTMAS SPECIALS ON BBC IPLAYER: 110 festive favourites to get you in the Christmas mood
• THE NIGHT MANAGER: Start watching John le Carré's twisted spy thriller

How will these latest restrictions affect your plans for Christmas? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiJmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLTU1Mzc5MjIw0gEqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYW1wL3VrLTU1Mzc5MjIw?oc=5

2020-12-19 17:04:00Z
52781247698161