Covid-19: Boris Johnson hopes families can have Christmas together

It is Boris Johnson's "ambition" for people to celebrate Christmas with their families, his spokesman has said.

The prime minister is "hopeful" that "some aspects of our lives" could be "back to normal" by then, he added.

But a scientific adviser to the government warned without taking action a normal Christmas was "wishful thinking in the extreme".

It comes as tougher rules come into force for nearly six million Britons - including a lockdown in Wales.

Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething also brought up the prospect of Christmas, saying the 17-day national lockdown, starting at 18:00 BST, was happening now so "we can have a much more normal Christmas season for businesses".

But Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said the priority was "saving lives not saving Christmas".

Scots have been warned the idea of a normal Christmas is a "fiction" and they should prepare for digital celebrations.

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Speaking at a briefing for journalists, the No 10 spokesman said: "The PM has been clear previously that he is hopeful that in many ways we could be able to get some aspects of our lives back to normal by Christmas.

"As I say, we've been clear about the ambition to ensure that people may celebrate Christmas as a family this year."

But earlier, government scientific adviser Prof John Edmunds said the idea that people could "carry on as we are" and then have a normal Christmas with friends and family was "wishful thinking in the extreme".

Prof Edmunds, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) committee, said: "The only way that we can have a relatively safe and normal Christmas is if we take radical action now to reduce incidence - at the very least in high incidence areas - and keep the incidence low across the country by implementing a package of measures to reduce social contacts."

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Prof Edmunds was responding to comments made by government minister Stephen Barclay, who told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he hoped families would be allowed to spend Christmas together.

"I think few people expect it to be exactly as it would normally," said Mr Barclay - but "the ability of families to spend Christmas together" was "something we all hope to be in a position to do".

Sir Jeremy Farrar, who also sits on the Sage committee that advises the government, has already warned that Christmas would be "tough" and was unlikely to be the "usual celebration" of "families coming together".

Meanwhile, the UK recorded another 224 deaths and 20,530 new confirmed cases on Friday.

The R number for the UK has decreased slightly and is now estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.4. That means every 10 people with the virus pass it on to 12 or 14 others, on average.

Tougher restrictions

Warrington is the latest place to announce it is moving to England's highest level of restrictions - tier three. The measures will take effect next week.

Nottingham and parts of Nottinghamshire are also expected to be moved into tier three next week, with the finer details such as whether or not gyms can stay open still to be decided.

South Yorkshire will also move into tier three from 00:01 on Saturday, by which time more than seven million people will be living under England's tightest rules.

Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Lancashire are already in tier three.

Under tier three rules pubs and bars not serving substantial meals have to close, while household mixing is banned indoors and outdoors in hospitality settings and private gardens.

Some areas have also gone further, closing businesses such as bingo halls, casinos, betting shops and soft play centres, while there is guidance against travelling in or out of the area.

Rising infections mean Coventry, Stoke and Slough will move into tier two restrictions at 00:01 on Saturday.

The high alert level means households are banned from mixing indoors and people are encouraged to reduce their use of public transport.

Scotland is bringing in its own five-tier system of restrictions which will come into force from 2 November, with the top level close to a full lockdown.

In Wales, the "firebreak" means people will have to stay at home and pubs, restaurants, hotels and non-essential shops will close until 9 November.

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