With just a few days to go until Christmas this week has seen some big changes to the planned relaxation of Covid-19 rules in England, Scotland and Wales was cut from five days to just one.
For those living in England, the rules on households mixing are no longer being relaxed between 23rd and 27th December, it will now be just for 25th December for all people living in Tiers One to Three but cannot include anyone in Tier Four.
However, in London, large parts of the south-east and east of England rules have become even stricter with a new set of restrictions known as Tier Four which will be in place for an initial two-week period.
Wales have also gone into a new set of restrictions with two households able to meet on Christmas Day, along with a single person support bubble.
In Scotland, on Christmas Day a maximum of eight people from three households will be allowed to mix indoors.
People in Scotland have also been advised that they should not travel to other parts of the UK, and no one who doesn’t live in Scotland should travel there.
In Northern Ireland there have been no changes made to Christmas Covid-19 restrictions, which means three households are allowed to meet indoors from the 23rd to 27th December.
There will however be a six week lockdown in Northern Ireland starting after Christmas
What are the Tier 4 restrictions?
The restrictions are similar to the last national lockdown in November, and will be in place for an initial two-week period, being formally reviewed on 30th December.
- People cannot mix indoors with anyone not from their household (including on Christmas Day)
- No-one in Tier Four should travel to an area in Tiers One to Three, including for Christmas
- All non-essential shops will have to close, along with hairdressers, nail bars, and indoor entertainment venues
- Gyms and indoor swimming pools must close but outdoor pools, sports courts and golf courses can stay open
- You can only meet one other person from outside your household or support bubble in an open public space
- People living in Tier Four areas being asked to stay at home – although those who have to travel for education or work may continue to do so
- Schools are currently scheduled to reopen as normal after the holidays
- Support bubbles remain unaffected, and children whose parents live in different households will still be able to visit both
- People in Tier Four areas should not travel abroad, except in limited circumstances (including work and education)
- Communal religious worship will still be allowed
- Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are not allowed except in exceptional circumstances
The Tier 4 areas affected are:
Greater London (all 32 boroughs and the City of London)
Kent
Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes)
Berkshire
Surrey (excluding Waverley)
Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth
Rother and Hastings
Bedfordshire
Hertfordshire
Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)
Peterborough
