UK’s Christmas plans in tatters with harsh new lockdown for 18 million people - BBC News

In a dramatic change of policy, millions of people across England have been placed under a new tougher tier of coronavirus restrictions, meaning families will not be able to mix at all this Christmas.

Boris Johnson made the announcement after scientists said a mutation of Covid-19 was spreading rapidly in London, the south east and east of England.

The variant is said to be much more contagious, but doesn't appear to cause more serious illness.

From midnight tonight, new Tier 4 restrictions come into force, affecting all current Tier 3 areas, in London, the South East and east of England.

The public is being asked to stay at home and there will be no so called “Christmas bubbles” for gatherings. Social get-togethers will be restricted to meeting one other person in an open public space. Non-essential shops will close, as well as gyms, beauty salons and hairdressers.

For those living in Tiers 1 to 3 in England, “Christmas bubble” gatherings can now only take place on Christmas Day. The original plan was for 5 days.

Meanwhile all of Wales is entering a new lockdown with the restrictions only eased for Christmas Day, and

Scotland is also only relaxing its rules on Christmas Day, with the highest level of restrictions coming into force for the whole country on Boxing Day.

Northern Ireland has already announced a new national lockdown from Boxing Day.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News reporting by political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Alexandra Mackenzie in Glasgow, James Williams in Cardiff and medical editor Fergus Walsh.

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