'Tis the season to be... JOLLY CAREFUL
■ PM TO LIFT LOCKDOWN BUT ANNOUNCES TOUGHER TIERS ■ HAILS NEW VACCINE AS HE EASES RULES FOR CHRISTMAS
BORIS JOHNSON has said Christmas will be the season to be ‘jolly careful’ – as he warned that the country must get through the winter before coronavirus vaccines help return life to normal.
The prime minister declared that, with a ‘ favourable wind’, the last of restrictions could be lifted by Easter, by which point most people in need of the jab should have had one.
Confirming government plans to allow loved-ones to enjoy Christmas, he said: ‘We want people to be able to celebrate but we don’t want to ruin it by overdoing it. I think there’s a wide measure of agreement about that, and I think you can probably expect some news about the way forward pretty soon.’
He added: ‘This is not the moment to let the virus rip for the sake of Christmas parties. ’Tis the season to be jolly but it is also the season to be jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives.’
Promising the end of lockdown on December 3, Mr Johnson unveiled details of a toughened-up three-tier system in a televised briefing – and declared science was ‘riding to the rescue’.
Hailing the new Oxford vaccine as a ‘Great British achievement’, he said: ‘We can hear the drumming hooves of the cavalry coming over the brow of the hill but they are not here yet. Even if all three vaccines are approved, even
if the production timetables are met – and vaccines notoriously fall behind in production timetables – it will be months before we can be sure we have inoculated everyone that needs a vaccine.’
Earlier, the PM – who has been selfisolating at Downing Street – was left speechless when his voice connection to the Commons cut out.
The No.10 computer glitch happened after he promised the lockdown would be England’s last. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle asked: ‘Have you pressed the button by mistake, prime minister?’
Under the lifting of the countrywide lockdown, crowds of up to 4,000 will be allowed at outdoor sporting and entertainment events. Places of worship can reopen, along with gyms, hairdressers and non-essential shops. Closing time for pubs and restaurants will move to 11pm in Tiers One and Two with last orders at 10pm. But pubs will have to serve ‘substantial’ meals in Tier Two, and will only be open for pre-ordered takeaways in Tier Three.
People will be able to meet with up to five friends in a Tier One pub but will be confined to the beer garden in Tier Two, providing they have a substantial meal. Weddings will be allowed with up to 15 guests and the rule of six will apply to social gatherings. A maximum of 30 people can attend funerals.
The restrictions will last until spring but areas will not find out what tier they are in until Thursday. Last night, Kate Nicholls, of UK-Hospitality, warned that the latest measures meant ‘hundreds of businesses are now placed in jeopardy and millions of jobs may be lost’. She said: ‘You can travel to an event with thousands, stand, sing and cheer together but cannot have a meal with a friend in a restaurant.’
The Society of Independent Brewers called the PM’s plans a ‘sucker punch’. Chief executive John Calder said: ‘Yet again, we are not provided with the evidence to justify why tougher restrictions for hospitality are needed when we know hospitality is Covid secure.’
Ché Donald, of the Police Federation, warned: ‘A potential short-term relaxation of Covid-19 regulations and a return to the tier system represents a unique challenge and will be next to impossible to police.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the PM’s new strategy was ‘risky’ and warned the previous three-tier system did not work.