New rules not a licence to party – Leitch

The relaxation of coronavirus restrictions at Christmas should be used only to relieve social isolation and not to have a big p a r t y, S c o t l a n d ’s national clinical director has said.

Professor Jason Leitch, pictured, said the public health advice is to remain cautious, as he reminded Scots “the virus will not take Christmas off ”.

Restrictions will be eased between December 23 and 27 to allow three households to form a “bubble”, permitting them to meet indoors, outdoors or in a place of worship.

Prof Leitch said “everything was on the table” at discussions b e twe e n the four UK nations on a united approach to Christmas, including lifting all restrictions for one day or keeping all the regulations in place – but they concluded it was right to offer people some flexibility.

He said: “The four nations agreed that this is such a big deal, such a big h o l i d a y, that it was important to offer some kind of guidance so that people d i d n’ t just do whatever they please and broke all the rules.

“We decided three households, five days and then we left the definition of that to the individual demographics.

“The public health advice is cautious. We want people to use it to relieve social isolation not to have a big Christmas party. Reserve the Christmas parties for after the vaccine.”

Scots are advised to have no more than eight people aged over 12 in any Christmas bubble, and these can only include one extended household. Children under 12 will not be counted towards the total permitted in a group.