No current plans to increase Christmas Covid guidelines, says minister

Conservative party chairman Oliver Dowden has said there are currently no plans to increase Covid guidelines around Christmas.

When quizzed on Sky News’ Breakfast programme this morning, the minister said there is a “huge difference” between now and last Christmas.

“There are no plans or anything else to stop Christmas” he explained, but added that “The way we keep that wall of defence protected is if you get your booster when you are called up”,

“Now 89-90% of adults have the vaccine…but we have to keep that protection topped up by taking the booster,” he emphasised.

Last year the government U-turned on current guidelines on 20 December, and placed strict limits on household mixing, just days after the Prime Minister accused Sir Keir Starmer of wanting to “cancel Christmas” for demanding tighter restrictions.