By Lucy Caulkett-
Scientific advisers to the British government have warned that Boris Johnson’s “ambition” for people to celebrate Christmas with their families is ”wishful thinking in the extreme”, without action.
The warning comes after prime minister’s spokesperson expressed the view that is “hopeful” that “some aspects of our lives” could be “back to normal”.
Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething also brought up the prospect of Christmas, saying the 17-day national lockdown, starting at 18:00 BST, was happening now so “we can have a much more normal Christmas season for businesses”.
With Wales facing an immediate lockdown, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said the priority was “saving lives not saving Christmas”.
Scots have been warned the idea of a normal Christmas is a “fiction” and they should prepare for digital celebrations.
“As I say, we’ve been clear about the ambition to ensure that people may celebrate Christmas as a family this year.”
British government scientific adviser, Prof John Edmunds, (pictured) said the idea that people could “carry on as we are” and then have a normal Christmas with friends and family was “wishful thinking in the extreme”.
Prof Edmunds, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) committee, said: “The only way that we can have a relatively safe and normal Christmas is if we take radical action now to reduce incidence – at the very least in high incidence areas – and keep the incidence low across the country by implementing a package of measures to reduce social contacts.”
Prof Edmunds’ comments came in response to government minister Stephen Barclay, who told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he hoped families would be allowed to spend Christmas together.
“I think few people expect it to be exactly as it would normally,” said Mr Barclay – but “the ability of families to spend Christmas together” was “something we all hope to be in a position to do”.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, also a member of the Sage committee that advises the government, has warned that Christmas could be tough, and not likely to be the “usual celebration” of “families coming together”.
With Nottingham and parts of Nottinghamshire expected to be moved into tier three next week, there are no signs of restrictions slowing down.
South Yorkshire is also move into tier three from 00:01 on Saturday, by which time more than seven million people will be living under England’s tightest rules.