FAMILIES should avoid playing board games to minimise the spread of coronavirus over Christmas, the Sage committee has said.
The latest advice from the government’s scientific advisory panel also suggests children should avoid close contact with their grandparents or sleeping in the same room as children from other households.
It comes after the government confirmed this week that up to three households will be allowed to form a bubble between December 23 and 27.
Travel restrictions will also be lifted, and people in the same bubble will be able to mix inside private homes and in outdoor public spaces.
They will also be allowed to stay in one another’s homes.
But guidance from Sage, the government’s scientific advisory committee, has warned that the relaxation of rules could lead to a spike in coronavirus cases.
They go on to outline a number of steps families could take to minimise the risks, particularly to older and vulnerable people.
They suggest, instead of board games, people could hold quizzes and other forms of entertainment that don’t involve physical contact or passing objects between one another.
Scientists have previously said that wiping hard surfaces like worktops, door handles, and chairs can be effective in stopping the spread of the virus.
The Sage guidance says that vulnerable people shouldn’t help with clean-ups this year because cleaning surfaces and touching other people’s clothes would increase their risk of infection.
The guidance also suggests that children should see grandparents outdoors if possible, and where they stay over should sleep in a room with their parents instead of with children from other households.
It comes after Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick this morning said Brits should open their windows during Christmas dinner to reduce the risk of transmission.
“There are lots of different options, from the whole family coming together at home, to perhaps meeting up for lunch with the windows open, or going out for a walk on Christmas Day,” he told Sky News.
Average temperatures in England plummet to as low as 2 degrees in December, but in parts of the UK it can fall below 0.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference this week, chief medical officer Chris Witty told Brits not to hug elderly relatives if they wanted them to “survive to be hugged again”.
“It’s not illegal but the fact that you can do something doesn’t mean you should,” he said.
Scientists have warned that one infected member of a household can pass the virus to as many as half of the others, the BBC reports.
They have also said the prevalence of coronavirus could “easily double” after just a few days of relaxed restrictions.
The Sage advice also says people should considered delaying celebrations altogether, particularly where vulnerable people are involved.
