Covid Christmas rules UK: Dates when tiers relax and everything you need to know

Government announces Britons can form ‘Christmas bubbles’ over festive period

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From 23 until 27 December, some Britons will be able to form “bubbles” over the Christmas period for up to five days, meaning that the current tier restrictions will relax and enable families to mix, break social distancing and stay over at one another's houses during the festive period.

However, while Boris Johnson had originally promised a "unanimous agreement" between the four nations about the festive relaxation of restrictions, the rules are now different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

There are also various guidelines in place that limit how many households can form a so-called “Christmas bubble”, depending on whereabouts in the UK you live.

So what do the Christmas bubble rules allow people to do over the festive season? And how are they different across the four nations? Here’s everything you need to know.

How many households can form a Christmas bubble?

In England and Northern Ireland, up to three households will be permitted to form a temporary Christmas bubble from 23 December.

In Northern Ireland, the window in which you can form a bubble is extended up to 28 December to allow time to travel between the nations.

In Wales, the rule is capped so that only two households can meet. However, like in England and Northern Ireland, they can form a bubble for the duration of the period.

In Scotland, up to three households can also meet, but rather than being able to do so from 23 until 27 December, they can only do so for one day. 

This means that, unlike in the other three nations, people cannot stay overnight at another person’s home, even if they’re in their bubble. In Scotland, Christmas bubbles must also have a maximum of eight people, not including under-12s.

There are no limits to how many people can form a Christmas bubble in any of the other three nations, so long as they abide by the limit imposed on the number of households.

What are you allowed to do within your Christmas bubble?

Within your bubble you can mingle indoors, stay overnight at one another’s houses (except for in Scotland) and gather together at places of worship.

You can also meet in outdoor public and private spaces together.

You can form a Christmas bubble with people outside of your regular household. This means you can stay somewhere else for the five day period, but this will count as two households, meaning that just one other household will be able to join you for the festive season.

People within a Christmas bubble do not have to maintain social distancing. However, the government advises continuing to take steps to reduce the spread of the virus.

This includes ensuring indoor spaces get as much fresh air as possible, washing your hands regularly and for 20 seconds.

Can you see your own family and then your partner’s family over Christmas?

Christmas bubbles are fixed for the duration of the five day period. 

This means that you can only see both your family and your partner’s family over Christmas if together, you do not exceed the limit of households permitted within a bubble.

Additionally, households you are in a Christmas bubble with cannot also be in other bubbles. 

So you can only see both your partner’s and your family if you are able to form a bubble together and commit to not forming a bubble with anyone else at a later date.

Can you spend time in one Christmas bubble on Christmas Day and form another for Boxing Day?

Given that Christmas bubbles are fixed, you cannot mix with two households on Christmas Day and two different households on Boxing Day.

You can, however, spend time with one household in your bubble on Christmas Day and a different household on Boxing Day, so long as they are also in your bubble and have not formed a bubble with a different household.

Do support bubbles count as one household?

In England, if you have already formed a support bubble with another household, that will count as one household under the Christmas allowances.

This means that you and the person with whom you have formed a support bubble can spend the festive season with another household in a Christmas bubble.

Again, this is dependent on both you and those in your support bubble not forming a Christmas bubble with anyone else.

Because there are no limits on the number of people that can be in a Christmas bubble in England, Northern Ireland, or Wales, this means that, in theory, a total of six households could come together over the festive period if each household also has its own support bubble.

The government website states: "A fixed bubble is a sensible and proportionate way to balance the desire to spend time with others over the Christmas period, while limiting the risk of spreading infection. 

“However, the more people you see, the more likely it is that you will catch or spread coronavirus.” 

Can you travel between tiers to form your Christmas bubble?

Yes, from 23 December, people in England will be able to travel between tiers and UK nations to meet those within their chosen Christmas bubble.

However, the government advises taking precautions while travelling over the festive period, such as maintaining social distancing and avoiding travelling during busy periods.

Can children with divorced parents see both of them during Christmas?

Children under 18 whose parents do not live together are permitted to be part of both of their parents’ Christmas bubbles.

However, if their parents choose to form separate bubbles. Nobody else should be in two bubbles.

Can you form a Christmas bubble if you are self-isolating?

You cannot form a Christmas bubble if you are self-isolating due to having coronavirus symptoms or having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Additionally, if a member of your Christmas bubble tests positive for coronavirus or develops coronavirus symptoms between the 23 and 27 December, or up to 48 hours after members of the bubble last met, all members of the bubble must self-isolate as if they were members of the same household.

For more information on Christmas bubbles, visit the government website.