Christmas Covid rules reduced to just a day

Christmas Covid rules have been dramatically scaled back meaning festive bubbles will now only be able to meet indoors on one day – instead of five.

At a press briefing on Saturday, Boris Johnson confirmed the changes to the Christmas Covid rules which were due to be relaxed between December 23 and 27.

Now across tiers 1, 2 and 3, which includes Hartlepool, the Christmas bubbles

–which allow three households to come together – will only be allowed to mix indoors on Christmas Day.

There will be no relaxation on December 31, so people must not break the rules at New Year.

Mr Johnson said: “Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, the potential risk it poses, it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.”

He also introduced a new stricter Tier 4 for the most affected areas, specifically in London, the South East and the East which are currently in Tier 3.

Residents in those areas must stay at home apart from limited exceptions. Non-essential retail, indoor gyms, personal care services must close.

People should work from home where they can unless it is not possible such as in construction. They should not enter or leave Tier 4 areas and residents should not stay overnight away from home. Individuals can only meet one person from a different household in an outdoor public space.

The new variant strain of the virus may be up to 70% more transmissible.