Wales make it illegal for more than two households to mix at Christmas
A Welsh Government spokesman said the decision to make its guidance on limiting Christmas bubbles to two households a legal requirement was to make it easier for the public to understand
Shoppers in Cardiff (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
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| UPDATED: 17:07, Wed, Dec 16, 2020
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Boris Johnson advises UK to ‘isolate’ before Christmas period Sign up to receive our rundown of the day s top stories direct to your inbox
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Tiered restrictions are in place across England, with three levels of rules in place dependent on the number of coronavirus cases and infection rates. Now the tiers have been reviewed, and areas will discover today if they are moving up or down the tiers. Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation alongside Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty this afternoon to discuss these changes.
Boris Johnson announces UK will go ahead with relaxed Christmas bubble rules
The UK nations have unanimously agreed to keep the Christmas bubble, although people are warned to be responsible when visiting family
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What have the UK nations said on Christmas?
The UK-wide legal framework for the Christmas bubbles remains intact, with three households allowed to mix between December 23 and 27.
But Scotland, Wales and England have now laid out significantly different positions on how the flexibility should be used.
SCOTLAND
People should not stay overnight unless unavoidable
People who have not already organised a bubble to should avoid doing so
WALES
Only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble
All non-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres, must close at the end of trading on Christmas Eve
Boris Johnson has urged people to “exercise extreme caution” and avoid seeing elderly relatives at Christmas as efforts to maintain a UK-wide approach to easing coronavirus rules faltered.
The relaxation of social distancing rules across the UK is expected to go ahead despite warnings about the possible impact on efforts to control the virus.
The original UK-wide plans would have seen three households allowed to form a festive bubble between December 23 and 27.
But in Wales, people are being advised to limit their bubbles to two households, while in Scotland the guidance on what people should do is being strengthened.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson said it is right to “stress the importance of people taking care this Christmas”, particularly due to the risk of asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus.