Extended support bubbles of up to four households could enable families and friends to gather safely at Christmas, a leading epidemiologist has suggested.
Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modelling led to the original lockdown in March, said the proposal would increase the risk of coronavirus transmission but in a “controllable way”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme that completely relaxing restrictions for a few days could “readily double infection prevalence” in the country.
But he said: “There are ways of going part way which still reduce the risk – basically extending what are called bubbles – social bubbles, support bubbles…
“You could think of allowing three or four households to bubble together for a week but not contact anybody else which would give more opportunity to see loved ones but not a free-for-all.
“And that, modelling would suggest, increases risk somewhat but in a controllable way.”
Prof Ferguson also warned that reopening pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas would likely lead to rising infection levels.
“The big question in practical terms is can we reopen hospitality venues – pubs and restaurants – in the run-up to Christmas and still avoid infection levels increasing?
“I suspect we can’t, but the decision may be made to do so anyhow on the basis that any increase will be slow and may be able to be counteracted later.”
