BEAST OF STEPHEN
Boris KOs ‘normal Xmas’ »» Tougher rules on the way
BORIS Johnson is turning into the Grinch and will tomorrow warn the nation: “This will not be a normal festive period.”
He will say lockdown will lift on December 2 – but be replaced by a tougher three-tier system.
Just how many people can get together should become clearer tomorrow. But the High Street – £2billion down this month – and businesses are reeling once more over the PM’s continuing U-turns.
In high infection areas the top tier will be stricter than before and still feel like lockdown. It means:
It is likely people will not be able to mix indoors or outdoors and bars, cafés, restaurants stay closed.
There will be no trips to hotels and B&Bs, which will only cater for business clients on essential work.
Schools, food shops, pharmacies, and vets will stay open.
But hairdressers, cinemas and gyms will stay closed.
The details of the tiers are yet to be finalised. But tier one – with the rule-of-six limit on the number of people meeting up – is effectively ditched as it did little to halt the spread of the virus.
The news comes as another 341 deaths were announced yesterday
and as top medics poured scorn on the idea of festive gatherings. No10 said: “The PM and his scientific advisers are clear the virus is still present. Without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect.
“That would put in jeopardy the progress the country has made and once again risk intolerable pressure on the NHS.”
The Covid Winter Plan should be signed off by the Cabinet today and presented to MPs tomorrow.
But the PM could face another rebellion from Tory MPs who will want to see evidence that yet more tiered restrictions are necessary.
Who goes into which tier will be revealed on Thursday. No10 added: “The plan will also set out how people will be able to see their loved ones at Christmas, despite ministers being clear this will not be a normal festive period.”
The disease is spreading in every region except the North West and Yorkshire. The R rate is 1 to 1.1 – meaning each infected person is passing the virus on to at least one other.
Independent SAGE scientists were unanimous in dampening hopes for the Feast of Stephen.
Public Health England medical director Prof Steve Powis said: “We will not be going back to normal.” Fellow SAGE member Prof John
Edmunds added: “We will have to moderate Christmas.”
Psychologist Dr Stephen Reicher said: “The worst present you could give anyone is to infect them.”
Epidemiologist Prof Gabriel Scally said: “It’s no use having a good Christmas if you bury friends and relations in the New Year.”
Neuroscientist Prof Karl Friston added: “We’re talking months before we come out of this.”
Earlier calls for a five-day relaxation – in return for 25 days of restrictions – were rubbished. Dr Zubaida Haque, of Independent SAGE, said: “The devastating outcome would be the impact on 20 million vulnerable people.”
Mathematical biologist Dr Kit Yates said: “A 25-day lockdown would make for t he mo s t depressing January ever.”
And Mark Adams, public health director for South Tees, even suggested yuletide celebrations next summer – fearing a splurge now could “cause massive damage in January and February”.