THE four nations have hammered out their festive plan so Brits can hug their gran and spend Christmas with their loved ones.
The festive boost came after yesterday’s crunch COBRA summit to save the holidays after months of crippling restrictions.
Social distancing and travel rules will be scrapped between the 23rd and 27th of December as part of the latest holiday guidance – but what are the rules?
Who can form a Christmas bubble?
Up to three different households will be able to meet up inside for five days over Christmas to form a new bubble – with no maximum of people
Once a bubble is formed it cannot be changed.
Shared households in England – such as friends sharing a flat, or a couple who wanted to see different parents – would be able to split up to join another household for the five-day period.
But they won’t be able to do this in Scotland – possibly splitting up millions of families.
In England, university students returning from halls at the end of term would automatically rejoin their family household and therefore not be included as a separate household.
Social distancing won’t need to be kept to during the five day relaxation of the rules, but ministers will remind people to be alert of the risks of spreading the virus.
People who are working shifts over the Christmas period won’t be able to move the dates.
What can Christmas bubbles do?
Bubbles will be allowed indoors, in public outdoor spaces and go to church together.
Christmas bubbles are not allowed to meet up in hospitality settings – which includes pubs, restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues.
What about the Tier rules?
The Tier rules won’t be completely scrapped for Christmas – and will apply in areas where the new bubbles rules don’t cover them.
Boris Johnson is set to announce on Thursday which areas will fall into which Tiers – and it is most of England will be in Tier 2 or 3.
So if people are in Tier 1, the rule of six will apply.
If they are in Tier 2 they will only be allowed to go to the pub or out for dinner with people they already live with – not the whole Christmas bubble.
And if they are in Tier 3, the pubs will be shut at Christmas anyway.
