Coronavirus news - live: Three households can mix at Christmas in five-day loosening of rules across UK
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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.
Vaccines may not prevent transmission of Covid-19 from vaccinated to unvaccinated, Moderna chief doctor warns
The recent data from multiple coronavirus vaccine trials has uplifted people around the world – as it was revealed multiple jabs showed high efficacy against the novel virus, Danielle Zoellner reports.
Moderna, an American biotechnology company, announced its coronavirus vaccine was 94.5 per cent effective at protecting people from Covid-19.
But the company’s top doctor has now warned this news doesn’t necessarily mean those who are vaccinated will be unable to transmit the virus to the unvaccinated.
Vaccines may not prevent the transmission of Covid-19 from vaccinated to unvaccinated, chief doctor warns
‘I think we need to be careful, as we get vaccinated, not to over-interpret the results,’ Dr Tal Zaks says
Families must make ‘personal judgement’ about Christmas risks, Johnson says
Boris Johnson said the Christmas agreement meant families would be able to reunite across the UK, but warned they must make a "personal judgment" about the risk of who they form a bubble with or if they visit elderly relatives.
In a video released on his Twitter account, the prime minister said: "Wherever you are in the country I urge you to keep up the incredible effort that you and everyone else have been making to keep pushing the virus down.
"Of course all this means that this year Christmas will be different. Many of us are longing to spend time with family and friends irrespective of our faith or background. And yet we can't afford to throw caution to the wind.
"The virus doesn't know it's Christmas and we must all be careful."
He added: "I know this doesn't equate to a normal Christmas and it won't work for everyone and it is up to each of us to think carefully about how we use this special time-limited dispensation."
Government accused of ‘muddled thinking’ over hospitality businesses’ exclusion from relaxed rules
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, has accused the government of "muddled thinking" over the exclusion of hospitality businesses from relaxed Christmas rules.
She said: "This is rapidly turning into the nightmare before Christmas for hospitality. While no-one begrudges families getting together over the festive season, the safest place to do so would be in well-managed and controlled hospitality venues.
"It is also surely better for hotels to be open and providing a place to stay than multiple households being cramped in a single house."
She added: "For the government to exclude these businesses in these new rules demonstrates muddled thinking and will cause the sector yet more harm coming so soon after the announcement of the new tier restrictions.
"Hospitality venues should be considered part of the solution for providing people a well-deserved safe and enjoyable Christmas, especially given that allowing multiple households to mix in the confines of private homes presents an exponentially greater risk."
‘Pandemic party’ held at Uber CEO’s $37m New York penthouse
A $37m (£28m) penthouse belonging to former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was used to host a "pandemic party" in New York City earlier this year, Harriet Alexander reports.
Journalist Cat Marnell, 38, wrote about the September gathering in The Cut, in a feature about how New Yorkers were seeking out illicit gatherings despite bans on mass gatherings.
She told how there were "tons of people there, and of course no one was wearing a mask".
‘Pandemic party’ held at Uber CEO’s $37 million New York penthouse
Travis Kalanick has said he was lending the lavish apartment to a friend at the time
New York governor cancels Thanksgiving plans after being accused of hypocrisy
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has cancelled his personal Thanksgiving plans after backlash for planning to have his elderly mother and daughters over for the holiday, Graig Graziosi reports.
The fury started when the governor told a local radio station on Monday afternoon that he planned to spend the holiday with his mother and daughters.
"My mom is going to come up and two of my girls is the current plan. But the plans change. But that's my plan," he said.
His plans sparked criticism on social media, where detractors called Mr Cuomo a hypocrite for asking New Yorkers to cancel their family gatherings while he still planned to have his.
Governor Cuomo cancels Thanksgiving plans with family amid social media backlash
Gov. Cuomo has urged New Yorkers not to travel and to limit Thanksgiving gatherings to ten people or fewer
‘Covid testing’ shoots to the top of Google search trends ahead of Thanksgiving
Google searches in the US for “Covid testing” have skyrocketed ahead of Thanksgiving.
According to data from Google Trends, there has been a surge in searches for "Covid testing" since 16 November.
Google Trend indexes use ratings between 1-100, with 100 representing the maximum search interest. Today, "Covid testing" was indexed at 100. Between 1 to 7 November, "Covid testing" was indexed at 48.
'Covid testing' shoots to the top of Google search trends ahead of Thanksgiving
Doctors warn that testing negative for coronavirus is not a ‘free pass’
France to ease lockdown as hospitality venues to remain closed to prevent ‘third wave’
France will start easing its lockdown this weekend so that by Christmas, shops, theatres and cinemas will reopen and people will be able to spend the holiday with their families.
In a televised address, president Emmanuel Macron said the worst of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in France was over, but that restaurants, cafes and bars would have to stay shut until 20 January to avoid triggering a third wave.
“We must do everything to avoid a third wave, do everything to avoid a third lockdown,” Mr Macron said.
National Express to increase Christmas services as UK travel ‘surge’ expected
A “surge” in travel is expected over the five-day Christmas period as families form their festive bubbles with loved ones.
Trains, roads and coaches are expected to be busier as many people look to make the most of the opportunity to spend Christmas with family and friends.
Coach operator National Express said it is increasing its services to meet demand in the run-up to Christmas.
Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach, said: “This is still very much a limited network, equivalent to around 20 per cent of our normal services with a focus on major cities, towns and airports.”
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