New Xmas Bubble guidance and Clarifications – 20/12/2020

The Government has published new Xmas bubble guidance which contains a few clarifications.

In Tier 4
o People already on holiday in a Tier 4 area should return to your home as soon as practical
o People resident in Tier 4 are not allowed to form a Xmas bubble within the area or travel outside the area
In Tiers 1,2 and 3
o You may see a maximum of two other households (your ‘Christmas bubble’) on Christmas Day (25 December).
o You cannot see anyone from a Tier 4 area.
o You can stay in private rented accommodation, a hotel, hostel or B&B in England over Christmas (in line with the social gathering rules in your tier) between 24 and 26 December, as long as you are staying by yourself, or with other members of your household and it is necessary for the purposes of seeing your Christmas bubble on Christmas Day.
o If necessary, you can stay in private rented accommodation with members of your household, or your Christmas bubble.
People travelling from Overseas
o If you are travelling to the UK from abroad you and your household may join a Christmas bubble on Christmas Day. However if you normally live abroad and arrive to join friends and family in the UK, you will count as a separate household for the purposes of forming a Christmas bubble.

Two Important Points

• People from areas outside Tier 4 are allowed to check in to accommodation on the 24th Dec and check out on the 26th Dec when travelling to form their Xmas bubble
• People in Tiers 1 and 2 are advised not to travel for holidays even within other Tier 1 and 2 areas. So while it is not illegal to do so, it is now the moral equivalent of people travelling from Tier 3 areas for a holiday previously.