Coronavirus: UK facing five days of potential disaster over Christmas rule

The UK has been accused of “throwing fuel on the fire” by making a stunning decision in the midst of a deadly second wave.

A controversial plan to ease restrictions for five days over the Christmas period in the UK has sparked fears it could fuel a devastating rise in coronavirus infections.

The British government has announced COVID-19 restrictions will be eased from December 23 to 27 to allow families to celebrate Christmas together.

Under the new rules three households can form a “Christmas bubble”, with no social distancing requirements for people within the bubble.

People can meet those in their bubble in private homes, places of worship or outdoor public spaces.

Residents travelling to meet people in their Christmas bubble are required to do so between December 23 and 27

Anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland may also travel on December 22 and 28.

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There are concerns the easing of restrictions over Christmas will result in a surge of COVID-19 infections. Picture: Neil Hall/Getty Images

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The decision to allow rules to be dramatically relaxed over Christmas comes as the UK is still battling its second wave of coronavirus infections.

On Monday the country recorded 14,719 new cases, which is an increase of more than 4800 on the daily numbers recorded the previous week.

It also recorded 189 new deaths, with the total number of fatalities now passing 61,000.

Though many residents are overjoyed at being able to see their loved ones these holidays, some experts have questioned what grim price the country will have to pay for this luxury.

Andrew Hayward, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) pointed out respiratory infections spike in winter anyway and easing restrictions will only risk case numbers surging even higher.

“My personal view is we’re putting far too much emphasis on having a near normal Christmas. We know respiratory infections peak in January, so throwing fuel on the fire over Christmas can only contribute to this,” he told the BBC last month.

“We’re on the cusp of being able to protect those elderly people who we love through vaccination and it would be tragic to throw that opportunity away and waste the gains we’ve made during lockdown by trying to return to normality over the holidays.”

Professor Hayward criticised the government for its “highly inconsistent message” after spending months touting the importance of social distancing and staying home.

Bristol University epidemiologist, Gabriel Scally, had an even more blunt warning about what the easing of restrictions could mean for families across the UK

“There is no point in having a very merry Christmas and then burying friends and relations in January and February,” he told ITV in November.

“We need to think very seriously about Christmas and how we’re going to spend it.”

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For five days over Christmas UK residents from three different households will be able to gather together, regardless of restrictions in their area. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

Christmas is now just over two weeks away and residents have been urged to take care when visiting friends and family.

Even though people within a Christmas bubble will be allowed to gather together, the leaders of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are still urging residents to think about alternative arrangements.

“Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over Christmas will be a personal judgment for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable,” they said in a joint statement.

“Before deciding to come together over the festive period we urge the consideration of alternative approaches such as the use of technology or meeting outside.”

Signs of complacency from some residents have already started to show through as we head into the holiday season.

The streets of London’s shopping districts were packed this weekend following a further easing of restrictions, with photos showing crowds packing the sidewalk and ignoring social distancing advice.

Crowds of shoppers are seen on Regents Street, London after England ended a nationwide lockdown. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

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There were also wild scenes outside one of London’s popular department stores after hundreds of maskless people attempted to storm the shop.

Images showed a rowdy crowd trying to force their way into a Harrods store, with the scenes so intense that it triggered fears of a terrorist attack.

One witness told The Sun he was setting up his coffee stand when “suddenly people started running”.

“There were about 200 to 300 people, and I initially thought it was a terrorist attack,” he said.

“When you’re in London and everyone starts running a certain way, you think the worst. I know it sounds ridiculous, but you can’t really know.”

Other people described bottles being thrown and a security guard being punched.

Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly criticised the crowds, saying the photos of people ignoring social distancing were “frustrating”.

“The vaccine, without a doubt, is a light at the end of the tunnel, but ultimately we still have to exercise personal responsibility,” he told Sky News.

“We’re not there yet, it will take some time to roll this vaccine out and it will take some time before we go back to normality.”