The four UK nations have “unanimously” agreed to keep relaxed Christmas Covid rules in place, the prime minister has said, after demands to “cancel Christmas”.
Boris Johnson said people must show “personal responsibility” and try to avoid contact with vulnerable people.
The relaxed rules allow three households to meet up from 23 to 27 December, allow people to travel across the country to form “bubbles” of three households over a five-day period. However, some advice will change.
Wales and Scotland have separately updated their advice. Wale has also reduced the number of households allowed to mix down to two and non-essential shops will have to close on the 24 December
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her “strong recommendation” was that people should, if they can, spend Christmas “in your own home with your own household”.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News that people should “use their own personal judgement and think carefully” about what is right for their family over Christmas.
“This is a virus that thrives on social interaction. So bringing more people together, even for this relatively short period of time, is not cost free,” he said.
“It will have consequences in terms of increasing the rate of infection.”
Mr Jenrick added: “But these are the sorts of judgements that people need to weigh up – how much do they want to bring members of their broader family together at Christmas. Or whether they think, on this occasion, let’s just keep it small and we can meet up in the spring.
“Easter can be the new Christmas for some people.”