Early evening summary As many as three different households will be allowed to mix for five days over the Christmas period, government sources have said, under a UK-wide plan agreed on Friday between ministers and the devolved nations. The NHS should routinely test people for illnesses such as seasonal flu once the coronavirus pandemic has passed, Matt Hancock has said, adding that he wants to end the UK’s culture of “soldiering on” and going to work while ill, infecting others. The UK has recorded 608 further coronavirus deaths - the highest daily total since early May - although case numbers are continuing to fall, the latest government figures show. (See 4.35pm.) The government will be forced to rely on Labour support to pass new tiered coronavirus restrictions in England with about 70 MPs believed to be considering rebelling when the measures are put to parliament next week. The education secretary, Gavin Williamson, acted unlawfully in removing safeguards for children in care at the start of the Covid pandemic without consulting children’s rights organisations, the court of appeal has ruled. The travel industry has welcomed the change in quarantine rules that will allow passengers returning to the UK from high-risk countries to reduce the time they self-isolate to five days, if they can provide a negative Covid test result. Leftwing members of Labour’s governing body have staged a mass walkout in protest of the actions of the Labour leadership, including the election of a key ally of Keir Starmer as the body’s chair. That’s all from me for today. But our coverage continues on our global coronavirus live blog. It’s here. Exports of sausages into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK could be blocked from next year as the EU is yet to agree to an exemption to its rules on chilled and fresh processed meat. A range of foods such as unfrozen mince or sausage meat produced outside the EU is considered so high risk to health that there is a de facto ban on them being imported into the single market. After 1 January, Northern Ireland will stay under single market legislation as the rest of the UK exits the EU’s legal order, creating a regulatory barrier within the UK. EU and UK officials are currently seeking to find a solution but Brussels currently has no provisions that would allow for an exemption from its rule book. Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association said: “The problem is that there is no export health certificate in existence to do these things.” Under a protocol in the withdrawal agreement designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, the UK government agreed that Northern Ireland would in effect stay in the EU’s single market. The EU’s customs code will also be enforced between goods travelling from Britain to Northern Ireland. Speaking after a meeting of the four governments, the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, said: This has been a very long and difficult year for everyone. All our lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone has done so much to help control the spread of the virus and to save lives. But that has meant many sacrifices, including not seeing family and close friends. We are all looking forward to Christmas and a chance to spend some time with all those we hold dear. Today, I met the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland and Michael Gove, from the UK government, and I’m pleased we were able to agree a common four-nation plan for the festive period. Commenting on the new rules, Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said: In coming to this agreement, we have listened to scientific and clinical advice on how best to minimise the risk and reach a balanced and workable set of rules that we hope will allow people to spend time together at this important time of year. Confirming the Christmas plans, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that there is a risk inherent in any relaxation of the restrictions and asked everyone to consider very carefully whether the opportunity to mix for a few days is necessary. She said: We know that for some, contact with friends and family is crucial during this time as isolation and loneliness can hit people especially hard over the Christmas period. The “bubble” approach aims to reduce this impact. She was also clear that the relaxations did not extend to Hogmanay, which has historically been of greater social significance in Scotland. Even this short relaxation will give the virus a chance to spread. Our priority is to suppress transmission of Covid-19 and reduce the risk to the vulnerable and those who have spent so long shielding - and that involves abiding by the rules. Just because you can mix with others indoors over this time, that doesn’t mean you have to. If you choose to stick with the rules as they are, then you will be continuing the hard work to beat this virus and prevent its spread. Earlier today Sturgeon warned MSPs that, while she expected the Christmas framework to be agreed later, there could be differences in what constituted a household in different parts of the UK. She told the Holyrood chamber: I will take part in a Cobra meeting later today where it is hoped that we will agree a common framework – albeit that some details, for example on the precise definition of household - might differ to reflect the different circumstances in each nation. Coronavirus rules for Christmas across the UK We have just had a No 10 briefing on the plans for Christmas. Here are the main points. The UK government and the devolved administrations have agreed to relax the rules over Christmas. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, attended the meeting with Nicola Sturgeon, Mark Drakeford and Arlene Foster, the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively, and their deputies. Up to three households will be able to form a “Christmas bubble” from 23 to 27 December. There is no maximum size for a bubble. Individuals will be able to travel between tiers and across the UK during that period. People will be able to travel to and from Northern Ireland for an extra day either side of that period, to allow for the extra travel time. The bubbles have to be exclusive; they cannot change. They can meet in homes, in public spaces or in places of worship. But people cannot meet in their bubbles in pubs or restaurants. People can meet people outside their bubbles outside their homes - but only in accordance with the local rules. A support bubble will count as one household when “Christmas bubbles” are being formed. Children whose parents are separated will be able to move between two “Christmas bubbles”. In England a group of, say, four young people living together would all be allowed to return home to their four separate families for Christmas without that disrupting the three-households-only rule. No 10 views this as a “proportionate” solution that will allow families to meet up to an extent - while limiting the risk of the virus spreading. All four chief medical officers have worked on this plan. They view it as striking a balance between allowing some contact and minimising the risk. Joint statement from four UK governments on rules for Christmas The four UK governments have put out a joint statement about the decision to relax restrictions for Christmas. Here is the full text (from the Welsh government’s press release.) As 2020 draws to a close, we recognise it has been an incredibly difficult year for us all. We have all had to make significant sacrifices in our everyday lives, and many religious and community groups have already had to change or forgo their customary celebrations to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. This cannot be a ‘normal’ Christmas. But as we approach the festive period, we have been working closely together to find a way for family and friends to see each other, even if it is for a short time, and recognising that it must be both limited and cautious. Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over Christmas will be a personal judgment for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable. We need everyone to think carefully about what they do during this period, balancing some increased social contact with the need to keep the risk of increased transmission of the virus as low as possible. This is particularly important when considering those who are vulnerable, and before deciding to come together over the festive period we urge the consideration of alternative approaches such as the use of technology or meeting outside. In this context, the four administrations have reached agreement on a single set of UK-wide measures to help people come together with their loved ones in a way that is as safe as possible. Today we have agreed that: Travel restrictions across the four administrations and between tiers will be lifted to provide a window for households to come together between 23 and 27 of December. Up to three households can form an exclusive ‘bubble’ to meet at home during this period. When a bubble is formed it is fixed, and must not be changed or extended further at any point. Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place, but existing, more restrictive rules on hospitality and meeting in other venues will be maintained throughout this period. It is important that everyone respects and abides by the rules of each nation wherever they choose to spend the festive period. Where there are any variations in our approach, these will be communicated by each administration accordingly. Further guidance will be provided in due course. The winter holiday period is a time often spent with family and friends, with schools and offices closing and people travelling over the bank holidays. Many have already begun making their plans, and we are today providing clarity to help people make the right choices for them, and enjoy time with those closest to them while staying within the rules to protect us all. UK Christmas Covid plan lets three households mix for five days As many as three different households will be allowed to mix for five days over the Christmas period, government sources have said, under a UK-wide plan agreed on Friday between ministers and the devolved nations, my colleagues Peter Walker and Jessica Elgot report. Three households to be allowed to mix for up to five days over Christmas, ministers agree This is from PA Media. Three households will be allowed to mix for up to five days in a plan to allow families to reunite at Christmas, government sources said. From my colleague Jessica Elgot In Northern Ireland just 79 further coronavirus cases have been recorded. But that may be because of a problem with the data, the local Department of Health says. A week ago today the figure was 549. And 11 further deaths have been recorded - up from nine a week ago today. Public Health Wales has recorded 595 further coronavirus cases. That is down from 892 yesterday and down from 705 a week ago today. And it has recorded 21 further deaths - down from 34 a week ago today. Tomorrow Rishi Sunak will deliver the his spending review. The Treasury has posted various pictures of him rehearsing his speech on Flickr. UK records 608 more Covid deaths, highest total since early May, as new cases fall sharply The UK government has updated its coronavirus dashboard. Here are the key figures. The UK has recorded 11,299 new coronavirus cases - the lowest daily total for more than seven weeks. Yesterday the figure was 15,450 and a week ago today the figure was 20,051. Daily figures can fluctuate widely, because they are dependent on how much testing is being carried out, and today’s fall is probably partly explained by the fact that the number of tests being carried out fell significantly over the weekend and on Monday. But today’s figure is also in line with a trend showing the number of positive cases falling sharply since mid-November. There have been 128,062 positive cases in the past seven days - down 28% on the total for the previous week. The UK has recorded 608 further coronavirus deaths - the highest daily figure since early May. These are people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. This is the highest daily death total in this wave of the pandemic, and the first time daily deaths have passed 600. A week ago today the equivalent figure was 598, and two weeks ago it was 532. The daily figure has not been this high since 12 May. The Cobra meeting to discuss a joint, four-nations approach to easing the Covid restrictions at Christmas, was scheduled to start at 4pm, so it should just be getting under way now. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, is chairing it. Amy Walker A salon owner in West Yorkshire faces £17,000 in fines for repeatedly opening during the national lockdown. Sinead Quinn was found working at Quinn Blakey Hairdressers by Kirklees council officers yesterday and issued a £10,000 fine. She was previously issued fines of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 for breaches of the Covid-19 lockdown rules. Footage posted to the salon’s Instagram account by Quinn shows her talking to council and police officers, saying she did “not consent” to the fines and that she was able to open her salon under common law. One video also shows both Quinn, and a client having her hair done, while not wearing face coverings. A laminated poster displayed on the salon’s door, which references Magna Carta, says the shop is “under jurisdiction of the common law”. Under England’s current national lockdown restrictions, non-essential shops including hairdressers must close. Following the salon’s first breach more than two weeks ago, when Quinn was issued a prohibition notice to close by the council as well as an initial fixed penalty notice of £1,000, Kirklees councillor Rob Walker described her actions as “selfish and irresponsible”. West Yorkshire police have said the matter is to be dealt with by the council. According to a poll for Ipsos MORI, only 50% of people think the lockdown in England will be “effective” in “significantly” reducing the spread of coronavirus. Some 41% think it will be “ineffective”. Who’s right? Well, it probably depends on how you define “effective” and “significantly”. The 50% can point to the fact that Covid case rates are now falling in most regions in England, in some cases quite dramatically. But the 41% can point to the fact that, even though hospital admissions are stabilising or starting to fall too, the overall threat is still high enough to require the government to replace lockdown with a new three-tier system even stricter than the one in place before.