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How the coronavirus rules could impact Christmas
Mid-September marks six months since the country first went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the months that followed, there was a vague semblance of normality when restaurants and bars reopened, family members were allowed to meet up and those shielding were told it was safe enough for them to leave their homes.
Fast forwards to September 22nd, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson made another address to the nation, this time announcing strict guidelines would need to be implemented again.
These new rules include:
A strict 10pm curfew on all pubs, bars and restaurants, which will also be restricted to table service only
Office workers to work from home again where possible
No gatherings indoors or outdoors for groups larger than six
Face coverings must be worn by taxi drivers and passengers, retail staff and customers in indoor hospitality venues
Only 15 people can attend weddings and civil partnerships, in groups of six, down from 30. Funerals can still take place with up to 30 people
You can only play indoor adult sports in groups of less than six
And while we all know these stringent measures are for the safety of us and others, you'd be forgiven for being a little downcast. Especially when it comes to December 25th. Because the question we all want to know the answer to is -
What do the new coronavirus rules mean for Christmas?
In his address, Boris Johnson said the UK has reached "a perilous turning point", and new coronavirus restrictions for England "could last for up to six months" in order to keep the virus under control.
Which, providing the situation remains the same, would mean no more than six people and two households can meet up until 22nd March, 2021.
The 10pm restaurant and bar curfew also means you can wave goodbye to the Christmas Eve boozy bonanza that you're used to, while the rule of six also means you're unlikely to be able to meet up with all of your school friends.
As employees have been advised to work from home and mass gatherings are still a massive no-no, work Christmas parties are looking unlikely, while Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon has also banned residence from going into each other's houses.
It might sound like a grim state of affairs, and to be honest, it is. But if a semi-lockdown is what it takes to stop the spread of the virus and save lives, then we've got to do what we've got to do.
The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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