Leeds reacts to Christmas bubble plans - what are the Covid household mixing rules in full?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told MPs that the four UK nations have agreed to continue “in principle” with the easing of Covid restrictions over five days.

Plans to allow families and friends to mix over Christmas will go ahead, despite concerns the relaxation of rules will lead to a rise in infection rates.

The tiered restrictions will still apply, with bars and restaurants staying shut if Leeds remains in Tier 3.

The Government is set to review which tier is appropriate for each area of England today, with the possibility of Leeds moving down to Tier 2.

This is what YEP readers had to say following the Christmas rules announcement:

Claire Magee said: "Seen Wales and Scotland are changing their minds, at least their leaders have a spine."

Katie Green said: "Just accept that some people are going to do what they want to do regardless of what they are told they can/cannot do. No point getting wound up about it"

Annette Cawkwell said: "Make the most of it people, because no doubt we will most definitely be back in lockdown in January"

Sam Mogridge said: "Not like you can do much anyway, pubs restaurants etc won't be open so you might as well enjoy seeing your family over Xmas"

Brian Horner said: "Get pubs back to normal!!"

What are the Covid household mixing rules in full?

The laws to permit people to mix to an extent over Christmas seemed on Wednesday to be staying the same in England.

– So what’s the law?

The regulations allow for a five-day “Christmas window” from December 23-27 when people can form exclusive bubbles of up to three households across the UK.

Boris Johnson told the Commons that there was “unanimous agreement” across the four nations “that we should proceed in principle with the existing regulations”.

– What’s the advice for England?

The Prime Minister said that “we don’t want to criminalise people’s long-made plans” but issued a warning for people to be “extremely cautious” over their actions.

He said that individuals should “exercise a high degree of personal responsibility”, particularly when considering meeting elderly people.

– Is it the same in Wales?

First Minister Mark Drakeford did not appear to be changing the law for Christmas in Wales but he was changing his advice for the Welsh public.

He said the new position is that “only two households should come together to form an exclusive Christmas bubble” over the five-day period.

“The fewer people we mix with in our homes, the less chance we have of catching or spreading the virus,” he said.

“None of us wants to be ill this Christmas. And we don’t want to give coronavirus to our close family or friends.”

Wales will then go into full lockdown from December 28 to last an initial three weeks.

– And Scotland?

Nicola Sturgeon said that her “strong recommendation” is that people do not mix households over the period in what is “unequivocally the safest way to spend Christmas”.

The Scottish First Minister said that meetings should take place outdoors if possible but if it was “essential” to meet inside then she advised people to meet for only one day and to not stay overnight.

Ms Sturgeon urged people against travelling between areas of high and low infection rates and asked people to consider “postponing” Christmas.

“The reality is that this Christmas simply can’t be normal. But we have every reason to hope that next year’s will be much more normal,” she added.

– How about Northern Ireland?

First Minister Arlene Foster said people needed to take “all and every precaution” when they come together at Christmas but could not rule out further restrictions in the days afterwards.

Health Minister Robin Swann is due to bring proposals for further Covid-19 restrictions to the Stormont executive on Thursday but Mrs Foster said she did not expect a recommendation for new measures to be introduced before the festive break.

Mrs Foster said she noted the more stringent advice on household mixing from her counterpart in Wales but added: “I am not going to prejudge what the minister is going to bring to us but undoubtedly we will have something to say tomorrow and over the next few days.”

– Legally speaking, will it be a normal Christmas?

Not at all. The tiered restrictions largely still do apply.

For example, pubs and restaurants in Tier 3 areas will not be open for business as usual over Christmas.

– What do the experts make of it all?

Two top medical journals have called for the Government to call off its “rash” decision.

In a rare joint editorial, the British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said the Government “is about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives”.

They added that the Government had been too slow to introduce restrictions in the spring and again in the autumn, and restrictions were needed over Christmas ahead of a “likely third wave”.