Christmas bubbles being considered as part of 'slight' easing of restrictions
The First Minister said households may be able to form slightly larger bubbles with each other.
Families may be able to form larger bubbles in order to see each other over Christmas.
The First Minister said a planned easing of coronavirus restrictions next month will be “slight and careful'.'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out the plans tomorrow (Tuesday 24th November) to allow small numbers of households across the UK to mix during the holidays - but Nicola Sturgeon said the details have yet to be finalised.
She said it is “likely'' extended household bubbles will be allowed over Christmas.
Ms Sturgeon added, “There is an obvious desire to see loved ones at Christmas, I think we all feel that very strongly.
“There's also a lot of anxiety about the potential risks associated with that, particularly at a time when we're starting to see, perhaps, the end of this pandemic loom on the horizon.
“So we're trying as hard as we can to reach a sensible balance, although it is possible - likely, in fact - that some households may be able to form slightly larger bubbles with each other for a short period over Christmas.
“We're considering this because we recognise that isolation and loneliness can hit people particularly hard over the Christmas period.''
Ms Sturgeon revealed the restrictions on gatherings will affect her own family's plans for Christmas Day.
She said: “My usual family Christmas is having my parents, sister and kids and my husband's mother, sister and kids to our house so we don't tend to go to others.
“That's a gathering that has reduced a little bit over the years with death and suchlike but it is more than 10 people.
“We will not be doing that this year - absolutely not - because I think that would be outwith any kind of reasonable limits and I don't want to put elderly parents or mother in law at risk so we will not do that.''
Ms Sturgeon also disclosed the last time she saw her parents was July 19 - the day of her 50th birthday.
Pondering whether she would see her parents this Christmas, she added, “I don't know, I will think about that carefully, from their point of view more than from mine.''
Ms Sturgeon said there is a recognition that - given the nature of Christmas and pressure people may feel to spend time with family members who may be alone over the period - some may “try to push the boundaries'' of restrictions.
She said rather than allow that to be “uncontrolled'', the Scottish Government is trying to build in flexibility during the holidays.
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