A Nottinghamshire MP has spoken about the risk of spreading the virus to elderly people at Christmas if people choose to "go out and mix then come back for dinner with granny and granddad".
Conservative MP for Sherwood and the Government's chief whip Mark Spencer was in a cabinet meeting this on Sunday, November 22 over plans for lockdown, winter and Christmas.
A relaxation of coronavirus restrictions “for a small number of days” over Christmas is planned to allow a limited level of mixing between households across the UK, the Government has confirmed.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to set out the basis of plans for the festive period on Monday, as well as detailing a new tougher three-tier system for England when its national lockdown ends on December 2.
But Mr Johnson will be unable to say how many households will be allowed to mix over Christmas and for how many days restrictions will be relaxed for until a later date, it is understood.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live after the meeting, Mr Spencer said there were no dates confirmed for the days mentioned at this stage but added: "Boris Johnson is clearly minded to help people over Christmas."
He added: "It's really important that we get the balance right, so we don't just end up going mad leading to the virus spreading again.
"There are people we need to think of who don't get a Christmas most years anyway - the police, NHS workers and all those in service industries.
"We don't want to make that time more difficult for them, by having people going out, getting into accidents.
"Especially for people with older relatives who are more vulnerable. If young people go out and mix then come back for dinner with granny and granddad, that could cause an infection.
"The more interactions we have, the more likely the virus will sread."
The national lockdown is expected to end on December 2.
Mr Spencer added: "If we can be sensible, we can all have a Christmas seeing friends and family without spreading the virus.
"I think people are quite weary of the Covid challenge but they are also concerned and don't want to make their family ill.
"I think people will be able to get the balance right, especially for the sake of their elderly relatives."
