The Prime Minister has urged shoppers to avoid crowds in the Boxing Day sales this year.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said people should avoid crowds over the festive season.
Mr Johnson said: “And whatever your plans for Christmas, please think carefully about avoiding crowds in the Boxing Day sales.
“And no one should be gathering in large groups to see in the New Year.”
He added: “If you have an elderly relative you might want to delay seeing them until they have been vaccinated.”
It comes amid a change in messaging around Christmas gatherings this year.
He is now advising people to minimise contacts before seeing loved ones at Christmas, and to avoid travelling from high prevalence areas to ones that are not so badly affected.
He said: “We’ve decided that the overall situation is alas worse, more challenging than we hoped when we first set the rules.
“While it would not be right to criminalise people who made plans and simply want to spend time with their loved ones, we’re collectively, across the UK, governments at every level, asking you to think hard and in detail about the days ahead.
“We’re keeping the laws the same but we all want to send the same message: a smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas and a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas.
“When we say three households can meet on five days I want to stress these are maximums and not targets to aim for.
“It’s always going to be safest to minimise the number of people you meet. That means if you are visiting others over Christmas we’re asking you in the five days beforehand, as early as this Friday, to reduce the number of people you are in contact with to the lowest possible.
“If possible don’t travel from a high prevalence to a lower prevalence area and avoid staying away from home overnight if you can.”
It comes as First Minister Mark Drakeford announced there will be a lockdown in Wales from December 28, effectively cancelling the Boxing Day sales for Welsh shoppers this year.
Allnon-essential retail, including close contact services and all leisure and fitness centres, will close in Wales at the end of trading on Christmas Eve. All hospitality premises will close from 6pm on Christmas Day
