Ministers have been keen to stress that Christmas this year will not be normal. Boris Johnson went so far to say on Monday that it ’tis the season to be ‘jolly careful’. However, as expected, there will be a softening of the current rules. Following a Cobra meeting this afternoon, the UK government and devolved administrations have agreed on a joint approach to socialising over the Christmas period.
The rules will be relaxed so that people can form a ‘Christmas bubble’ made up of three households for the period from December 23 to 27. During this time, travel across the UK will be permitted, including between tiers so that people can meet up with their household bubbles. Anyone travelling to and from Northern Ireland is to be permitted to travel an additional day either side given the extra logistics involved. Within the bubble, social distancing rules will not apply so hugging is allowed.
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