■ WAIT FOR EASTER TO RELAX RULES, SAY SCIENTISTS

CHRISTMAS RELAXATION OF RULES COULD LEAD TO THIRD WAVE, WARN SCIENTISTS

EASING coronavirus restrictions over Christmas could lead to a third wave of the pandemic and another lockdown, scientists have warned.

The experts said it might be best to wait for Easter to celebrate, despite leaders of the four UK nations agreeing to allow festive ‘bubbles’ of three households between December 23 and 27.

Graham Medley, professor of infectious disease modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the relaxation could lead to more people being admitted to hospital.

A further 696 people have died of Covid-19, the highest since May 5, with 18,213 new cases reported, according to figures released yesterday.

Prof Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4’s Today: ‘For this Christmas it is up to us as individuals and families to think about what our risks are and how we are going to mitigate them.

‘I think it is inevitable that if a lot of people do take that risk, even if it is a small risk, then we will end up with a lot of people in hospital and potentially having to take measures in January to lock down again.’

Dr Bharat Pankhania, who is senior clinical lecturer at Exeter University, said he had cancelled Christmas celebrations and hoped to be able to hold family gatherings next year instead.

And Sage member Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London, warned of the risk of a third wave.

‘Effectively, what this will be doing is throwing fuel on the Covid fire,’ he told the BBC. ‘With the vaccine on the way, if we are not very careful over Christmas we are really in danger of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on this one.’ Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford said the restrictions were relaxed to avoid a ‘free for all’.

He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: ‘The choice was between a guided form of meeting over Christmas or people simply making their own solutions.’

Boris Johnson has also urged people to exercise caution. ‘We can’t afford to throw caution to the wind. The virus doesn’t know it’s Christmas and we must all be careful,’ he said in a video message.