Rules will be relaxed for a five-day period in December allowing loved ones to spend Christmas together.
From December 23 to 27, people across the UK will be able to form a 'Christmas bubble' made of up to three households.
Travel between tiers and across the whole of the UK will be allowed within the five-day period but only for the purposes of meeting with their bubble.
The main rules for the period between December 23 and 27 are:
- you can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households
- you can only be in one Christmas bubble
- you cannot change your Christmas bubble
- you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
- you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
- you can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier where you are staying
- you cannot meet someone in a private dwelling who is not part of your household or Christmas bubble
However, there will be many wondering if this means they can see relatives and friends in care homes.
Restrictions have been tough for many families with loved ones in care homes up and down the country throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The guidance for care home residents at Christmas differs between the four nations.
We'd like to know what you think should about the new Christmas rules. Do you think it is right to ease restrictions over Christmas? Have your say in our survey below.
In England, the government warns that "spending time with others outside the care home will increase risk of exposure to coronavirus for the resident and the other residents in their home on their return, and is likely to place an additional burden on the care home."
As a result the guidance says that visits out of care homes should only be considered for care home residents of working age - under 65.
Residents, their families and care homes should very carefully consider whether this is the right thing to do, or whether visiting at the care home would provide meaningful contact in a safer way.
Some residents may be able to leave their care home, in agreement with the home and subject to individual risk assessments.
A care home resident may form a bubble with one other household, and should not form a three-household Christmas bubble at any point.
If a care home resident does join a household for Christmas they should maintain social distance, wash hands regularly, and let plenty of fresh air into rooms by opening windows and doors.
Others in the household should take steps to minimise the risk to the care home resident and others in the care home.
All members of the bubble should:
- take steps to minimise their potential exposure to coronavirus by limiting the number of people they meet for two weeks prior to allowing a care home resident into their household
- talk to the care home about getting tested prior to meeting the care home resident outside the care home. In order to safely return to the care home, the resident will need to be tested and isolated. We will provide further details shortly through the publication of relevant guidance.
In order to safely return to the care home, the resident will also need to be tested and isolated.
The government says further details will be provided shortly.
