Coronavirus news - live: Three households can mix at Christmas in five-day loosening of rules across UK
Follow live as number of weekly Covid deaths surpasses 2,000 for first time in six months
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Three households will be allowed to form a “bubble” over Christmas as the coronavirus rules are relaxed for five days across the UK.
The UK government and devolved administrations have agreed the approach despite concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
The temporary easing of measures will allow three households to mix in a bubble from 23 to 27 December.
Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place, but existing, more restrictive rules on hospitality and meeting in other venues will be maintained throughout the period.
Prime minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce details of which areas of England will be placed in which tier of restrictions on Thursday ahead of the country coming out of the current lockdown on 2 December.
It comes as the UK recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll since May, with a further 608 fatalities reported on Tuesday, compared to 614 on 12 May.
Covid-19 vaccination program could be ‘biggest logical exercise’ undertaken, Sturgeon says
The effort to vaccinate millions of Scots against coronavirus could "perhaps the biggest logistical exercise and challenge that has been undertaken", Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister said she hoped to ensure that all adults can have the injections “as quickly as it is feasible to do," according to PA Media.
She said it was possible that the military would be called in if needed to help expedite the rollout of vaccines.
Recent news of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine being up to 90 per cent effective, she said, came as a welcome sign that "the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter".
However, she warned: "We must do all we can to keep the virus at bay while we navigate our way through what will be a tough winter."
Hot tub party host summoned to court
The host of a hot tub party who claimed he “didn’t believe” in lockdown rules has been summoned to court.
Nottinghamshire Police found five people from different households mixing when they arrived at an address in Poplar Grove, Forest Town, Mansfield, on Saturday - and the homeowner is said to have refused to give details when asked.
Hot tub party host who ‘didn’t believe’ in lockdown rules summoned to court
Police disperse six people from party
Fees scrapped for students rebooking train tickets
Fees are being waived for students rebooking train tickets to go home for Christmas during the "travel widow", the Department for Transport has announced.
Passengers are normally charged up to £10 to amend an Advance ticket.
Students in England will be allocated staggered departure dates from December 3-9 so they can spend the festive period with their families.
Those who had already bought tickets before the policy was announced on November 11 will not be charged amendment fees.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Students will be eager to be at home with their families after an unprecedented autumn term, and travelling during this window enables them to do so as safely as possible.
"By waiving change of journey fees, they can now rebook their tickets without being left out of pocket."
Five days of looser Christmas restrictions and three households to mix
Families will be granted five days of looser Covid-19 restrictions to enjoy Christmas with two other households, after a four-nation agreement was struck.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have backed the plan put forward by Boris Johnson at the weekend – despite fears that infections will rise.
Rob Merrick reports:
Five days of looser Christmas Covid restrictions with three households allowed to mix
Families will be granted five days of looser Covid-19 restrictions to enjoy Christmas with two other households, after a four-nation agreement was struck.
10-year-old boy becomes one of UK’s youngest Covid victims
The parents of a 10-year-old boy, who is thought to be one of the youngest victims of Covid-19 in the UK, have spoken of their "indescribable" pain following his death.
Fehzan Jamil, from Bradford, who had a number of underlying health issues, including epilepsy, died in hospital after contracting the disease and was laid to rest on Monday.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Fehzan's parents, Tayyaba and Mohammed Jamil, described their son as a "really brave fighter" and "soldier", who was a cheerful boy despite his health problems.
In an interview broadcast this evening, his father Mohammed said: "There were four of us, now there are only three. The pain is indescribable."
His mother Tayyaba added: "I just can't describe our loss. Everything feels empty now."
Chancellor promises to make jobs ‘number one priority’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised to make jobs and livelihoods his “number one priority” in a spending review designed to inject momentum into the economic recovery from coronavirus.
Mr Sunak will tomorrow unveil a new £2.9bn Restart scheme to help 1m long-term jobless look for work, along with a £1.4bn of new funding for JobCentre Plus and funding for continued support for apprenticeship and skills.
Andrew Woodcock reports:
Rishi Sunak promises to make jobs ‘number one priority’ in spending review
Calls for chancellor to ditch ‘economic madness’ of public sector pay freeze
Christmas plans offer ‘hope for families and friends’, says Gove
Michael Gove said the Christmas plans would offer "hope for families and friends" after a "difficult" year of coronavirus restrictions.
He said: "The UK-wide agreement reached today will offer hope for families and friends who have made many sacrifices over this difficult year.
"We know that the Christmas period this year will not be normal, but following constructive discussions between the UK government and the devolved administrations, families and friends will now have the option to meet up in a limited and cautious way across the UK should they wish.
"In coming to this agreement, we have listened to scientific and clinical advice on how best to minimise the risk and reach a balanced and workable set of rules that we hope will allow people to spend time together at this important time of year."
UK records highest daily death toll since May
The UK has recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll since mid-May, with a 10-year-old boy among those to have died in hospital after testing positive for the virus, data shows.
A further 608 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday, taking the UK total to 55,838, according to the Government's coronavirus dashboard.
This is the highest daily total since 614 deaths were reported on May 12 - but there is often a delay in the reporting of deaths over the weekend.
These figures are not the number of people who have died in a single day but the number of deaths reported in the past 24 hours.
Relaxation of restrictions over Christmas will ‘almost inevitably’ lead to increase in transmission
Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, has warned the relaxation of restrictions will "almost inevitably" lead to an increase in transmission.
"The issue is whether that increased risk is tolerable in relation to the benefits. At that time schools will be closed so there would naturally be some downward pressure on transmission," he told the PA news agency.
"Also if the new tier system is working well and local authorities are placed into a more appropriate tier this time around then there will be a downward pressure on transmission before and after the Christmas break."
He added: "Providing that the new tier system is better managed than in October any increase in cases could be relatively short lived. After Christmas we will still have to live through a few more months of restrictions at least.
"Christmas whether or not we celebrate the day as a religious festival may be what we need to make it through the rest of winter."
Household mixing makes ‘mockery’ of pub restrictions, British Beer and Pub Association says
Plans to allow households to mix over the Christmas period make a "mockery" of restrictions being placed on pubs, The British Beer and Pub Association has said.
According to government guidance, Christmas bubbles of up to three households will not be able to meet in pubs or restaurants where rules will depend on which tier a venue is in.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the trade association representing brewers and pubs, said: "These plans for Christmas make a mockery of the extra restrictions being placed on pubs and the economic devastation they are facing this Christmas.
"How can it be that pubs cannot properly open while households can mix in private settings? The Government data has consistently shown that house-to-house transmission is one of the highest, whereas hospitality has accounted for as little as 2 per cent of Covid incidences when open.
"Pubs are a controlled, safe and regulated environment to socialise in - following all Government guidelines and working with NHS Track and Trace. They are part of the solution for a safe and enjoyable Christmas, not the problem.
"It seems the government has chosen to inflict unnecessary pain and irreversible damage on our sector without publishing evidence alongside these decisions."
Ms McClarkin warned that Christmas was "the most important time of the year" for the pub sector and "thousands will not survive the winter" without financial support from the government.
She added: "We all need some festive cheer after this tough year - and we want everyone to be able to enjoy a beer in their local pub with family and friends this Christmas, safely. After all, Christmas just won't be the same if we can't go to the local."
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