Dr Hilary Jones has urged everyone to make safe decisions for meeting family at Christmas.
GMB's resident doctor was reacting to the news England will return to a regional tier system from December 2.
While Christmas details haven't been confirmed yet, Boris Johnson promised a relaxation of restrictions.
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The Prime Minister said: "I know that many of us want and need Christmas with our families, we feel this year we deserve it.
"But this is not the moment to let the virus rip for the sake of Christmas parties.
"'Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also the season to be jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives."
But Dr Hilary said it was up to Brits to take responsibility for their safety at Christmas.
He said: "Three households could mean any number of people and that is a huge worry.
"The more people that gather together, the more risk of the virus being transmitted.
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"I would say these are guidelines, however, you can make your own decisions about what you think is safe for elderly and vulnerable people in your family.
"The vast majority of the people in this country are being responsible and don't want to expose their elderly relatives to any risk of the virus."
