Four Nations Approach to Christmas

Joint agreement on festive period

The Scottish Government has agreed a cautious and limited relaxation of the rules on household meetings to support people over the Christmas period.

A maximum of three households are to be able to meet in a “bubble” during a short window of time across the festive period.

Households will be able to travel between local authorities and between the four nations during 23 and 27 December to form a bubble, and must only join one bubble.

The five-day period provides time for travel, and for those who may have to work over Christmas. Households are not required to use all five days and should keep visits to no more than one or two days if possible.

The approach states:

• a “bubble” should be formed household to household only (i.e. different people in a household should not pick their own bubble)

• between 23 and 27 December, people can meet in an exclusive “bubble” composed of three households

• you should stay with your “bubble” where they are hosting you and you should follow the travel advice for the level you are in (e.g. people being hosted in a level 3 area cannot go on an outing to a level 2 area)

• within your “bubble”, you can gather in a home, an outdoor place or a place of worship

• in all other settings - eg. hospitality, entertainment venues – those who have formed a bubble must only socialise with members of their own household

• households deciding to form a bubble will be advised to limit social contact before and after the period of relaxation

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for festive period. The guidance stipulates that Christmas bubbles (no more than three households) should be kept to a maximum of eight people (children under 12 are exempt from the rules); those bubbles are not allowed to visit restaurants, bars or visitor accommodation.

Hospitality businesses will have to trade under the levels restrictions in place in their area over the festive period.