UK urged to rethink easing of restrictions around Christmas

  British government on Tuesday appeared to be holding out against calls to reassess its plans to ease coronavirus restrictions over Christmas period following a spike in new cases that will see tougher rules imposed on London.

With number of new cases rising at an exponential rate in many parts of country, re are growing concerns that planned limited relaxation of restrictions next week will see a furr escalation in infections and ditional pressure on National Health Service in new year.

British government, which devises public health strategy for England, along with devolved ministrations in Scotland, Wales and rrn Ireland, agreed last month to allow a maximum of three households to mix between Dec. 23 and Dec. 27, regardless of what local restrictions are in place in areas where y live.

re are a myri of restrictions across U.K., largely based on prevalence of virus in geographic areas, limiting number of people allowed to gar both inside and out of home.

London will join or major cities in England, including Birmingham and Manchester, in highest level of restrictions — so-called Tier 3 — on Wednesday. This will involve, among or new restrictions, closure of pubs and restaurants apart from takeouts and deliveries and banning of anyone meeting someone else from ar household. People living in Tier 3 areas, which from Wednesday will be majority of population of England, are t allowed to meet socially in a private garden or at most outdoor public venues with anybody y do t live with.

With restrictions being tightened in many parts of country, questions are being raised about wisdom of allowing a relaxation around Christmas. That's particularly true in Wales, where infections have risen especially fast over past few weeks.

London Mayor Siq Khan was among those calling on government to look again at easing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas.

“ concern is this — rules have been relaxed for five days, allowing household mixing for up to three different households and inevitably when people are in ir own households, y tend to be less vigilant," he told BBC Rio. “And my concern is that many people may have virus and t realise it. y could pass virus on to older relations.”

So far, British government is resisting changing course, but mess around Christmas garings appears to have been finessed.

Stephen Barclay, a Treasury minister, said it's about “finding right balance" of seeking to avoid criminalizing people while at same time reminding everyone of risks.

“It’s important people do minimum that is possible,” he told Sky News.

(Im credit: AP)