Christmas may be just over a week away but the government has been forced to hold an urgent meeting about the plans for easing measures as coronavirus cases rise.
Leaders in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland all spoke to Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Tuesday evening, as they came under pressure to change the rules they decided earlier this month.
For only the second time in 100 years, the British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal joined forces to call for Christmas bubbles to be axed.
The journals wrote: “We believe the government is about to blunder into another major error that will cost many lives.
“If our political leaders fail to take swift and decisive action, they can no longer claim to be ‘protecting the NHS.’"
What are the current plans?
Under the current plans agreed by all four nations people will be able to travel across the UK between December 23-27 to form a "Christmas bubble" with three households.
Between 23 and 27 December, the three households in a "Christmas bubble " can mix indoors and stay overnight.
Northern Ireland has a window of 22 to 28 December, to allow time to travel between the nations.
Bubbles can meet each other in homes, at a place of worship and in an outdoor public space or garden.
The bubbles will be fixed, so you cannot mix with two households on Christmas Day and two different ones on Boxing Day. Households in your Christmas bubble can't bubble with anyone else.
What are the leaders considering changing?
But these rules may be changed as Covid cases rise in many parts of the UK.
The leaders spoke on Tuesday night and are believed to be considering whether to reduce the amount of days the rules are relaxed to three instead of five. They are also rumoured to be considering reducing the number of households permitted to mix from three to two.
Talks over the planned easing of coronavirus restrictions at Christmas are expected to resume on Wednesday between the leaders.
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A Welsh Government spokesman said on Tuesday night: "The leaders of the devolved administrations and Michael Gove met this evening to discuss the arrangements over the Christmas period.
"They will reconvene tomorrow to confirm the position."
A spokeswoman for First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said after the meeting: "Following this evening's call with counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales, ministers will discuss the current situation with medical and scientific advisers.
"It is expected that an update will be brought to the Executive on Thursday."
