Covid-19: UK PM tightens Christmas rules for England and announces Tier 4
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Published 2020-12-19
The UK prime minister has announced London and the South East of England will enter a new, more extreme tier of Covid restrictions from tomorrow, amid fears over the rapid spread of a new strain of coronavirus, cancelling Christmas plans for millions across England.
Those in tier four are being told to stay at home and face the closure of non-essential retail and gyms, as well as tougher restrictions on household mixing and travel.
Boris Johnson also announced the planned relaxation of rules for a five-day period over Christmas will be cancelled for the rest of England. Those in tiers one, two and three, will instead be allowed to gather up to three households on Christmas day only.
Joined in a press conference by England's Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, and the UK's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, Boris Johnson explained early evidence suggests the new strain of the virus, discovered earlier this week, could be up to 70% more transmissible than the old variant.
Leaders of the UK's devolved nations today took part in a call to discuss the surge in cases. As such, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also expected to tighten restrictions.
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All Comments (21)
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Sorry the Conservative government cannot continue as planned.
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You are only allowed to spread the virus if its work related. When do we get to see this new strain? Airports are still open right?
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Tier 5 - you can’t leave your borough Tier 6 - you can go further than 5 mins away from your home Tier 7 - you can’t leave your bedroom
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We cannot continue with Boris as planned.
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I was mad today because I lost my money from my jean pocket, ... and hearing this, I’m done. I need to sleep now.
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I bet if they put this on the side of a red bus people would believe it..
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Are those his devil wings behind his back?
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Dear Brits who were looking forward to seeing people you now can’t visit. I’m sorry. I hope you can still manage to enjoy the little bit of family time that’s allowed.
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'Totally transparent' brain. Suddenly follows Labour Party suggestions after PMQ circus clowning. Useless 🙄.
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How does he know what people 'had planned' for their fckn Christmas? He's actually finely regulating each day of our week for us now? Government will not save you! Communal worship allowed in tier 4 but only allowed to visit one person from another household? Well that makes zero sense doesn't it
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The fact furlough has been extended until April, the introduction of the soon to be wide spread tier 4, and major reactions like Christmas being cancelled, all points to an effective national lockdown until at least next May
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'How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?'' Four.''And if the party says that it is not ...
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I asked a doctor when they think this virus will end. She told me how would I know, I'm a doctor not a politician.
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BoJo the wonder clown try to blame a mutation on cancelling Christmas, it was B.S. to open up for 5 days anyway.
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No sympathy at all for people who’ve lost loved ones. What a shameful person.
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I assume a quick trip to beauty spots, especially Barnard Castle to check my eyesight, with my whole family in the back seat of then car, is completely acceptable to this government and to the police.
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Does anyone intend to follow the rules if you have already made plans?
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I reckon the relaxation of the rules over Christmas was lies all along and they had no intention of doing that and had just said that to shut people up and had planned maliciously to pull the plug at the last minute!
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Don’t tell me what to do.
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Why can't we see the slides!!!
