UK coronavirus: people urged to be extra careful at Christmas as millions in England face toughest restrictions - as it happened

That’s it from the UK blog team. You can continue to follow our global coronavirus coverage at -

• More than 60% of England’s population - around 34 million people - will be living under tier 3 rules from Wednesday after London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire were placed under the harshest level of restrictions.

• On the new variant of the virus identified in South East England, Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said there is no evidence the symptoms are different or are worse or testing has to be different. He added it is not clear the new variant actually spreads quicker.
  

• Professor Whitty said there is “no current evidence” that the Covid-19 vaccine has has impact on fertility.

• In the daily government press conference, Matt Hancock urged people to be “careful and responsible” when visiting loved ones during the Christmas period. He said “If you are planning to meet up with loved ones at Christmas, then being careful now, two weeks ahead, making sure you minimise the chance of both catching the disease and passing it on is the right thing to do - actually, that’s the right thing to do all the time.”

• Downing Street says schools should stay open after both Islington and Greenwich council in London move to online lessons.

• Hancock, the health secretary, said a ‘test and dine’ scheme is being piloted to help the hospitality sector.

• Three hospitals in Wales are operating at or near their maximum capacity while at the same time suffering staff shortages.

Three hospitals in Wales are operating at or near their maximum capacity while at the same time suffering staff shortages.

The three hospitals are all at what is known as “CritCon status 3B” - Critcon 3 means they are at full stretch with critical care expanding into the other areas of the hospital and routine procedures being suspended. The B highlights that staffing levels are down.

If a hospital reaches Critcon 4, resources are being overwhelmed, which opens up the prospect of staff having to choose which critically ill patients to treat.

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We currently have three hospitals at CritCon status 3B. However, this is reviewed regularly and can change on a daily basis.”

The CritCon system is designed to represent the level of “stress” in the system, and any deviation required from usual practice.

Professor Fenton concludes by stressing the need for people to have the vaccine.

“It is high effective and we are working with faith and community organisations to ensure you all have the information to take the vaccine and encourage family members at risk.”

Whitty added there may be an issue long term with variants being immune to natural immunity or vaccines.

The final question is how common is the new variant.

Whitty says the virus will continue to produce mutations but many will just “die out”.

Some will be neutral and a few of them will have new properties.

Prof. Whitty reiterates a “minimalist, responsible” Christmas meeting families sticking to the rules, calling it a “limited relaxation”.

Hancock cites Manchester, Newcastle, the Tees Valley, Bristol and Nottingham, areas where the rate of infections has fallen.

“We can do this together”, he added.

Hancock said: “Our messages around Christmas are really clear. We understand why people want to see their loved ones, especially at this time of year, especially after this year.

“But it must be done in a way that is careful and responsible, and I think people understand that too.

“If you are planning to meet up with loved ones at Christmas, then being careful now, two weeks ahead, making sure you minimise the chance of both catching the disease and passing it on is the right thing to do - actually, that’s the right thing to do all the time.”

Prof Whitty denies that Tier 3 will be introduced in London and surrounding areas due to the variant of the virus.

On the variant, Prof Whitty said there is no evidence symptoms are different or worse or testing has to be different.

On Christmas, Prof. Whitty: “There is never a perfect time to go into any tier. The reality is it does reduce the virus, but it requires everyone to buy into that. Go to late and you risk spreading the virus, go too early and you damage business.

“What everyone is trying to do, is to try and get a balance that is reasonable between these two very difficult decisions.”

Prof. Fenton: “Londoners have been fantastic in responding to the pandemic from emerging from first wave, to keeping the infection low over the summer period.

Once again we’re asking Londoners to pull together to help us get ahead of the curve. It is difficult. We are making the right decisions at the right time.”

From 23-27 December rules are being relaxed to allow three households to mix.
Prof Chris Whitty said “it’s no secret... Christmas is a period of greater risk”. But he says they have tried to strike the balance of doing what is “least damaging” while keeping the virus under control. And he urged people to take the tiers seriously before Christmas to reduce the risk as much as possible.

Go no further than you have to,” he said.

Prof Fenton said “the actions we take now” will affect our ability to have a safe Christmas. “The restrictions in the tiers will still be in place. But the Christmas period allows us to meet those who are nearest and dearest to us but also taking care to prevent the transmission to them as well.”