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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Sophie McCoid

GMB's Adil Ray points out Tier 4 loophole so some people can see family

Good Morning Britain presenter Adil Ray exposed a loophole in the Tier system that means people won't necessarily have to be lonely at Christmas.

Adil, who is covering for host Piers Morgan, said he was shocked that Prime Minister Boris Johnson changed the Christmas plans so suddenly on Saturday, after previously announcing people could meet.

Most of London and the South East were placed into Tier 4 which has the strictest restrictions, forbidding households from mixing and throwing millions of people's Christmas plans into chaos - reports Mirror Online.

But Adil told viewers that if they lived on their own, they did not have to be isolated this Christmas, because support bubbles are still allowed.

Adil said: " If you are in Tier 4, you can still meet people in your existing support bubble, and there are lots of criteria that make a support bubble.

"Things like single parents, single people, single vulnerable people, a family with a young child under one.

Adil Ray pointed out a loophole in the Tier system on GMB (ITV)

"You can meet those even if they are in different Tier, it's not advised, government says keep your support bubbles local, but if they have to be in a different Tier, you can.

"And you can [stay] overnight with them as well, it's not ideal and you should try to keep your support bubbles local and not overnight, but you can.

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"I think that gives a little bit of reassurance to some families and vulnerable people who felt they were going to be entirely alone this Christmas.

"If you are living on your own there may be a chance you can still see your family."

But Adil's message goes against official Government advice that tells people they shouldn't join a Christmas bubble with anyone from a Tier 4 area.

The advice said: "Do not join a Christmas bubble with anyone from a Tier 4 area.

"Only see your bubble on Christmas Day. Do not stay overnight and keep your visits as short as possible.

"Stay local where possible. Avoid travelling from a high prevalence to a low prevalence area."

But the guidance goes on to add that if you are vulnerable and are already in a support bubble, you can meet your support bubble on Christmas Day even if they are in Tier 4, but not stay overnight.

They add that anyone in a support bubble should isolate for five days before they meet with their bubble.

* Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV at 6am

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