By Charlotte Webster
Christmas relaxation in the UK could be a set up for a fierce 2021 lockdown to battle the virus, members of the British public are beginning to conclude.
Whilst permission for more households to mix is believed to have been to allow families to enjoy Christmas, a number of people from the British public consider the guidelines to allow three household mix during Christmas to be unnecessary, and a potential excuse to establish a further lockdown in the new year. Other experts have forecasted a lockdown in the new year.
An ongoing research suggests many members of the British public consider the idea of a three household mix during Christmas to be a poor idea if it will lead to lockdown in 2021. Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
Tough coronavirus restrictions are expected to be in place across much of the UK until at least February in a bid to combat the virus.
The future expectations of further restrictions is said to be connected to the temporary relaxation of restrictions at Christmas, which is expected to fuel the spread of the virus, and scientists say it is likely that tough measures will then be in place until at least February.
Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts in England, said: “No one wants the tiered restrictions to stay in place one day longer than is absolutely necessary. Trust leaders completely understand their impact on peoples’ livelihoods and wellbeing, and the wider economic impact.
But until the vaccination programme has brought the virus right back under control, reducing social contact is the best defence we have, and is likely to remain so until well into the spring.”
Prof Rowland Kao, an expert in infectious disease dynamics at the University of Edinburgh, said that for restrictions to be eased, an area’s R number needed to fall below 1, meaning the epidemic is shrinking.
Northern Ireland will begin a six-week lockdown from 26 December, similar to the “sustained” shutdown in March.
Wales had already announced a lockdown from 28 December which will be reviewed every three weeks and has no end date.
In Scotland, the government has warned that tougher restrictions – including a potential lockdown – after the festive period cannot be ruled out.
When asked about the prospect of a national lockdown in England, government minister Nick Gibb said the tier system was “very effective” but nothing was ruled out.
But the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Katherine Henderson, said England and Scotland needed to do “whatever it takes” to get a grip of the virus, even if that meant “full lockdown”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tweeted a message warning people planning to form “Christmas bubbles” in the UK between 23-27 December to start minimising contact with people from outside their households from today.