By Covid: ‘Too early’ to make Christmas rules, says minister
It is “too early to say” how people will be able to celebrate Christmas this year with strict Covid rules in place across large parts of the UK, the environment secretary has said.
But George Eustice warned people “may not be able to get together in the larger groups that they normally would” during the festive season.
This follows news that UK deaths hit their highest level for five months yesterday ( Tuesday), when 367 new fatalities linked to coronavirus and nearly 23,000 more cases were recorded.
Mr Eustice’s comments came after Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey had called for four-nation coronavirus planning in relation to Christmas, warning people face confusion and complexity over potential restrictions.
But the call was dismissed by the environment secretary who told BBC Radio 4’s Today he believed it was simply too early to set out rules that will apply to Britons across the UK in two months’ time.
And asked how people might be able to celebrate Christmas, Mr Eustice told Sky News’ Kay Burley: “The prime minister has been very clear, as we all are, that we want people to celebrate Christmas in a way that is as close to normal as possible.
“But it is too early to be able to say exactly what the situation will be come Christmas, and exactly what different parts of the country will or will not be able to do.
“Obviously checking the spread of this virus is paramount, but alongside that we want people to live their lives as close to normal as possible, including at Christmas which is an incredibly important time for families.”
Millions of people usually move around the UK at Christmas time to see friends or families.
If household gatherings continue to be limited in number, many of the usual larger gatherings would be illegal this year.
Photo: Paige Cody
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