Christmas Bubbles: Plea to 'be sensible' from Wiltshire Council

With under a week to go until we're allowed to form three-household bubbles for the festive period (23rd to 27th December), there's a call from Wiltshire Council for us to think carefully.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the county has been falling in recent weeks, and the authority is asking us to be cautious to prevent a rise after Christmas.

Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council, Terence Herbert is asking us to keep mixing to a minimum:

"We understand that being able to see loved ones at Christmas will really help with wellbeing and morale after what's been a really tough year, but please be cautious and be sensible. We don't want there to be serious repercussions as we head into the New Year. Hopefully next year, Christmas and all the other occasions that we love to spend with each other will be a lot more normal."

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

During the five day festive window, the Government guidelines include:

• You can form an exclusive 'Christmas bubble' composed of people from no more than three households

• You can only be in one Christmas bubble

• You cannot change your Christmas bubble

• You can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble

• You can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces

• You can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier you are meeting in

• If you form a Christmas bubble, you should not meet socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble

Wiltshire's Director of Public Health, Kate Blackburn, has a message for us all ahead of the festive season:

"I certainly don't want to be a Grinch and steal Christmas from you, but all I ask is that you be as cautious as you can be over the Christmas bubble period. Please carefully weigh up all the risks of who you have in it and how many people you see. Many of us over Christmas will be looking forward to relaxing and putting our feet up, but that's something the virus won't be doing."

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ADVICE

Leader of Hampshire County Council, and Chairman of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, Councillor Keith Mans, is calling on us to be responsible:

"After a difficult and challenging year, we know that many people will be looking forward to creating a Christmas Bubble with loved ones. Although the introduction of new vaccines is giving us all hope for a brighter 2021, it is vital that we remain vigilant over the holiday period and beyond, so we can continue to limit the spread of COVID-19. The advice is to discuss the pros and cons of gathering in a larger group before agreeing to form a Bubble, especially with anyone who is at higher risk from the impact of the virus, and how best to do this, to keep everyone safe."

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• covid19
• wiltshire council
• hampshire county council
• Christmas