(The Guardian) Boris Johnson has urged families to limit the length and scale of Christmas gatherings, saying existing rules for a festive respite from Covid regulations across the UK would not be changed – but that people should be extremely cautious.
“A smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas, and shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas,” the prime minister told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, echoing the sentiments of leaders from the devolved UK nations.
Prof Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said that just because three households were allowed to mix for five days over Christmas, it did not mean they should. He compared it to driving at 70mph in icy conditions, which would be legal but “not sensible”.
The prime minister said the coronavirus situation was “alas worse and more challenging than we had hoped when we first set the rules”, concluding: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, and I’m afraid that this year I do mean little.”
