Scientists have confirmed that in order for coronavirus measures to be eased over Christmas, we must stick to strict restrictions in the meantime.
Dr Susan Hopkins, the medical adviser to the Government's Covid-19 response, said tougher restrictions could be needed either side of Christmas if curbs are to be eased over the festive period.
She told a Downing Street briefing: "We are very keen that we have a Christmas as close to normal as possible.
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"That requires all of us to make every effort over this national restriction period and even in early December to get the cases as low as possible and to reduce the risk of transmission within households and between families.
"A final decision will rest with the Government and we look forward to hearing what those plans are."
Dr Hopkins added that Sage scientific advice indicated that "for every day that we release (measures) we will need two days of tighter restrictions".
"So, coming into Christmas we need to be very careful about the number of contacts that we have, to reduce transmission before Christmas and get our cases as low as possible.
"Hopefully the Government will make the decision that will allow us to have some mixing, but we will wait and see what that is.
"Then, I think, once we have got past the Christmas period if there has been a release and some socialisation we will all have to be very responsible and reduce those contacts again."
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Deputy chief scientific adviser Dame Angela McLean indicated the Sage advisory panel had been examining potential relaxation of measures over Christmas.
She told the briefing: "We did send some advice in over the weekend.
"But we genuinely don't know what decisions have been made."
Asked whether households mixing could be allowed if there were other trade-offs, Dame Angela said: "What's really important is we go into a festive week when we want to mix with our friends and our family with the number of infections in the community as low as possible."
