Covid Rules: How Boris Johnson's Christmas Bubble Plan Came Close To Popping

The UK has spent the last couple of days waiting to find out whether Boris Johnson might reluctantly turn families’ Christmas plans on their heads amid rising Covid-19 rates.

Not only have coronavirus infections risen by almost 29% in a week, but London – along with large parts of Essex and Hertfordshire – have been plunged into the strictest tier 3 restrictions.

According to the BBC, 34m people in England are now living under “very high alert” coronavirus rules.

All of this led to medics and scientists seriously urging the PM to scrap his plan to allow people to form a three-household Christmas bubble between December 23 and 27, saying it could lead to a third wave of the virus.

But on Wednesday Johnson confirmed the government’s plans for festive socialising would go ahead, albeit alongside new advice to have a “little Christmas”.

So how did we end up here, with the public essentially left to decide for themselves the safest way to celebrate Christmas?

November 24

With just over a month to go until Christmas Day, Johnson – in collaboration with national leaders – laid out his plans for the festive season.

Under the agreed system, coronavirus restrictions would be eased between December 23 and 27 to allow three households to come together to form a Christmas bubble, with travel restrictions also relaxed to allow people to get home.

This decision was made despite numerous warnings from experts about the dangers of relaxing the Covid rules over Christmas.

In a video on Twitter, the PM said the “special dispensation” would allow families to reunite.

However, he urged people to think twice about who they decided to bubble-up with – especially elderly or vulnerable people.

“Tis the...

Continue reading on HuffPost