The UK Government and devolved administrations have agreed on a temporary easing of coronavirus rules over Christmas, allowing three households to mix in a bubble for five days over the festive period. Households are allowed to mix between December 23 to 27. But legislation published this afternoon shows travel disruption can enable families to form bubbles after Christmas.
LBC’s Westminster Correspondent Ben Kentish said: “Since it was announced we’ve talked about that strict time period, December 23 to 27.
“But it appears it’s not quite as strict as we thought because looking through the legislation that has been published this afternoon there is an exemption.
“There is an exemption for people whose travel is disrupted by what the Government has called ‘unforeseen disruption’ and they can effectively extend that bubble until after the 27th.
“They can have a gathering immediately after that period.
“That is going be quite contentious because while some people say ‘fair enough if someone’s train is delayed they shouldn’t have to miss out on Christmas with their family’.
“The risk is it will undermine the clarity of the rules.”
He added: “We didn’t know that was coming, it’s been sneaked into the legislation but I feel that it could be a bit of a controversy because of the concerns on the impact that might have.”
It comes as a leading epidemiologist has warned that family gatherings over Christmas could lead to further Covid-related deaths in the spring.
Dr Gabriel Scally said now is not the time for large get-togethers, and he revealed he will forego meeting his own relatives this Christmas.
Dr Scally, of the Royal Society of Medicine, said: “If we have a very merry Christmas, and meet lots of friends and relations, then I fear that in January and February we may well be burying some relations.
“That’s the cruel truth of this virus. It’s desperately dangerous and we mustn’t let it surge back again.”
But speaking on RTE’s Saturday with Katie Hannon, Dr Scally said the end of the pandemic is on the horizon.
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