By Message of ‘have a smaller, more local Christmas’ expected in UK’s much anticipated tier review
Today, the Health Secretary will outline which, if any, regions in England will change tiers before the relaxation of COVID rules over the festive period.
Today’s tier review was promised when the tier system was brought in at the beginning of the month, but its significance was undermined by the announcement on Monday that London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire would be moving into the top tier because of rising case numbers.
Mr Hancock is expected to reinforce the message that people should take extreme caution over Christmas and think carefully about meeting elderly or vulnerable relatives.
Home Secretary, Priti Patel, said Matt Hancock’s statement to MPs, which is expected around 11.30am, has the message from the government urging people to “have a smaller, more local and safer” Christmas if they can.
Ms Patel stated:
“Don’t travel if you don’t need to, don’t stay overnight somewhere else where you don’t need to, stay at home effectively, with your small support bubble“.
She added:
“We want everyone to have a wonderful Christmas, we really do”.
“But in a smaller, safer way, a localised way”.
“I think the public understand that”.
The health secretary is only expected to make minor changes to England’s tier allocations when he faces MPs, according to the Press Association.
Mr Hancock’s Commons statement will be one of the last acts in Westminster before MPs head home for their own Christmas holidays.
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