THE COST OF DAYS XMAS
FIVE of extreme lockdown for every day of fun with family Experts warn partying will lead to new crackdown if infections soar
MAKE THE MOST OF IT Family gathers for Christmas
DOCTORS yesterday raised hopes relatives could spend Christmas together but warned we face almost a month more in lockdown to pay for relaxing restrictions.
Ministers are said to be looking at a five-day break from the rules banning indoor mixing, so that family and friends can have festive get-togethers.
But Public Health England said the joy would swiftly be followed by pain as there would need to be five days of further curbs for every day of relaxed measures in a bid to slow infections.
The extra lockdown days would be expected to come in January – and could be applied across the whole UK. But one doctor warned that allowing people to mix again for the festivities could have disastrous effects.
It comes as the numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospital in some parts of England have passed levels at the peak of the first wave.
But Government scientists confirmed they have drawn up plans that could help people to see their
relatives over yuletide. PHE’s Dr Susan Hopkins told a No 10 briefing: “We are very keen to have Christmas as close to normal as possible. That requires all of us to make every effort over this national restriction period and even in early December to get cases as low as possible. A final decision will rest with the Government.
“For every day that we release, we’ll need two days of tighter restrictions.”
But PHE later issued a correction to say for every day of relaxed measures there would have to be a further five of tighter restrictions. Deputy chief scientific adviser Dr Angela McLean added: “What’s really important is that we go into a festive week, when we want to mix with our friends and family, with the number of infections as low as possible.”
The PM’s spokesman said: “We’re looking at ways to ensure that people can spend time with close family over Christmas at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year.”
But TV medic Dr Hilary Jones warned people would “all want to drink and gather indoors”. He added: “There are a lot of people who cannot celebrate Christmas. People who work in the NHS, paramedics, emergency workers, police. They work normal duties. Everyone else wants to party.
“They all want their roast turkey. I am afraid it is a recipe for disaster.”
Business Secretary Alok Sharma said it was not yet known whether social distancing curbs could be eased over the festive period.
He added: “It’s too early to be reaching any conclusions.
“What none of us knows right now is what the infection rate is going to be in different parts of the country.” Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said it was his “very firm expectation” that measures will be eased significantly next month.
There were a further 529 UK Covid-19 deaths yesterday, bringing the total to 53,274. Ministers are working out what new tiers should replace the previous system once England emerges from lockdown.
But the British Medical Association has warned the system is “inadequate”.
It wants the Government to bring in “triggers” under which areas would move up and down tiers.
Chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “We must not squander the efforts of the many people who have followed the
law, stayed at home, sacrificed freedoms and incurred financial loss to contain the virus.
“When the first lockdown ended, there was no coherent plan for keeping Covid-19 at bay, no clear and simple public messaging.
“This was followed by spiralling infection rates, more businesses failing, new local lockdowns, and now we have a death toll at more than 52,000.
“It is unthinkable that we make the same mistakes again – because the impact will be far worse.”
Figures show the number of Covid patients in hospital in three of the seven NHS regions in England – the North West, North East and Yorkshire, and the South West – have passed levels at the peak of the first wave.
The Midlands is also likely to be worse in a matter of days. In the remaining three regions, numbers have also risen but at a slower pace.
In London, 1,403 patients were reported on November 17, well below the first-wave peak of 4,813.
We are keen to have Christmas as close to normal as possible
DR SUSAN HOPKINS OF PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND