Third national lockdown ‘likely’ after Christmas as Downing Street refuses to rule out the possibility

England may go into a third national lockdown after the Christmas relaxation period, as cases are continuing to rise.

Downing Street has declined to rule out the possibility of another national lockdown, with a number of senior ministers saying the same. 

It follows the news that Wales confirmed they will be bringing in a national lockdown immediately after Christmas on December 28th, to be reviewed after three weeks, with Northern Ireland introducing tougher restrictions post-Christmas as well. Scotland said today they are also considering a national lockdown.

Further adding to the speculation of a third national lockdown is the extension of furlough to April 2020, with the chancellor announcing the news yesterday.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We’ve been clear of the rationale behind the tiered regional approach and that’s what we’ve set out for the time.

“That is designed to reduce the rate of transmission and reduce the R rate in areas of high prevalence. As we’ve said throughout we will obviously keep the latest data and the latest trends under review.”

A member of the Sage scientific advisory panel, Professor John Edmunds, has also said that it’s likely measures will have to be tightened after Christmas.

He told Sky News: “At the moment it doesn’t look like the tier system is holding the epidemic wave back, unfortunately. So I think we are going to have to look at these measures and perhaps tighten them up, we really will. It’s a horrible thing to have to say but we are in quite a difficult position.”

Julian Wan/Unsplash

Scientists have expressed concerns over the relaxed restrictions over Christmas, at a time when respiratory diseases peak and there is already a strain on the NHS.

The rules for Christmas allow three households to form a festive bubble between December 23rd and 27th. In Wales, this has been reduced to two households following increasing rates.

In the update on the tier system, Boris Johnson reiterated that ‘three households’ was not a ‘target’ but a maximum permitted. He strongly urged people to limit gatherings and travel plans. 

In the Commons, Tory chairman of the Commons health committee Jeremy Hunt urged Matt Hancock to provide clarity on the Christmas guidance, adding: “Irrespective of the law or the regulations, should we or should we not have indoor social gatherings with elderly and vulnerable family members?”

Mr Hancock responded: “People should act with great caution.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was concerned that the tier system was ‘just not strong enough to control the virus’.

He said: “We’ve been seeing the numbers going in the wrong direction across the country in the last seven days in particular.”