Three households will be allowed to celebrate Christmas together under new lockdown rules, it has been reported.
Families will be allowed to see their loved ones between December 23 and 27 in a festive relaxation of coronavirus rules, sources told The Mirror.
A Cobra meeting bringing together the UK Government and the devolved administrations has been held this afternoon to agree on a four-nation approach to relaxing coronavirus restrictions over the festive period.
The plans were approved by leaders of all UK nations, and will apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - all of which are currently under separate coronavirus restrictions, according to the reports.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged the risks involved in a Christmas relaxation, saying it is the "season to be jolly careful", but is determined to give families the chance to meet up at the end of a grim year.
Covid-19 "doesn't care if it is Christmas", a top public health expert has said.
Professor Devi Sridhar's comments came as officials from the four UK nations try to concoct a coherent plan to allow families to reunite at Christmas.
Prof Sridhar, who is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, said it was "risky" for people to meet indoors - particularly when there are elderly relatives around and alcohol could be involved.
But she said recent vaccine breakthroughs could mean the country is in a "fundamentally different" position in March.
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"People emotionally want to hear reassuring messages," she told a joint meeting of the Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.
"They wanted to hear it over the summer that there would be no second wave, and they want to hear it now that Christmas will be normal.
"I guess I have to speak bluntly - the virus doesn't care if it's Christmas."
