While everyone starts to think about their Christmas arrangements following this week's announcements, there's details you'll still have to be aware of.

Whether you are planning the logistics of a three-household bubble or perhaps maintaining plans to stay away from people, there's some details of the Christmas arrangements you may not be aware of.

The Prime Minister urged the public to “think carefully” over the festive period after it was confirmed that three households will be able to mix from December 23 to 27.

If I'm planning a Christmas bubble what do I need to know?

Well, this is the main thing you will need to be aware of - especially if you are meeting anyone vulnerable.

You should reduce unnecessary contact with people you do not live with as much as possible in the two weeks before you form your Christmas bubble.

However, children should continue to go to school.

You should work from home if you can, but you should avoid unnecessary social interaction. Any increase in contact with other people increases the risk you will catch or spread coronavirus.

What can you do in a Christmas bubble?

Between December 23 and 27 you must not meet friends and family in your home UNLESS they are in your bubble.

You can:

  • Visit the homes of your Christmas bubble
  • Stay in private rented accomodation
  • Go to a place of worship together
  • Meet in public outdoors

You can't meet in a:

  • Pub
  • Theatre
  • Hotel
  • Shop 
  • Restaurant

This will be dependent on your tier.

What if we have relatives in a care home?

Residents and their families are being asked to consider "very carefully" whether visits out of care homes is the right thing to do.

"Residents, their families and care homes should very carefully consider whether this is the right thing to do, or whether visiting at the care home would provide meaningful contact in a safer way", the government advice says.

"Some residents may be able to leave their care home, in agreement with the home and subject to individual risk assessments. A care home resident may form a bubble with one other household, and should not form a three-household Christmas bubble at any point."

All members of the bubble should:

  • take steps to minimise their exposure to coronavirus by limiting the number of people they meet for two weeks prior to allowing a care home resident into their household
  • talk to the care home about getting tested prior to meeting the care home resident outside the care home. In order to safely return to the care home, the resident will need to be tested and isolated.