Dr Arun Thimmiah, of the Abbey Road Surgery, looks to put minds at ease by answering some of the pressing questions around coronavirus.

How should we safely celebrate the holiday season this year?

As 2020 draws to a close, it has been an incredibly difficult year for us all. We have all had to make significant sacrifices in our everyday lives, and many religious and community groups have already had to change or forgo their customary celebrations to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives.

This cannot be a ‘normal’ Christmas or holiday period. But as we approach the festive period, the Government has issued guidance for family and friends to see each other, even if it is for a short time, and recognising that it must be both limited and cautious.

Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over this period will be a personal judgement for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable. We need everyone to think carefully about what they do during this period, balancing some increased social contact with the risk of increased transmission of the virus as low as possible. This is particularly important when considering those who are vulnerable. Before deciding to come together over the festive period we urge the consideration of alternative approaches such as the use of technology or meeting outside.

In this context, the Government has issued a single set of UK-wide measures to help people come together with their loved ones in a way that is as safe as possible.

These are that:

  • Travel restrictions across the four administrations and between tiers will be lifted to provide a window for households to come together between the December 23 and December 27;
  • Up to three households can form an exclusive ‘bubble’ to meet at home during this period. When a bubble is formed it is fixed and must not be changed or extended further at any point;
  • Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place, but existing, more restrictive rules on hospitality and meeting in other venues will be maintained throughout this period.

How do the new tiers system work?

In Cumbria we have been placed into tier two. This means that the following restrictions apply:

  • You must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place;
  • You must not socialise in a group of more than six people outside, including in a garden or a public space;
  • Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a Covid-secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs;
  • Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals.

Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:

  • Provide table service only in premises which sell alcohol close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt);
  • Stop taking orders after 10pm;
  • Places of worship remain open but you must not socialise with people from outside of your household or support bubble while you are indoors there, unless a legal exemption applies.

Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, and 15 people can attend linked commemorative events such as wakes or stone settings

You must continue to follow tier two rules when you travel to a tier one area and avoid travel to or overnight stays in tier three areas other than where necessary.