Boris Johnson is reported to be considering a controversial move that could see the current 'rule of six' restrictions lifted for Christmas Day.

It was reported by The Sun on Sundaythat Johnson could lift the current rules to allow large families to mix on 25 December only despite the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a source close to the prime minister:

The PM is anxious to avoid being portrayed as Scrooge. He’s fully aware that millions of people are making big sacrifices to defeat this virus and is considering ways to allow them to experience the joy of Christmas for at last part of the holiday season.

At the moment fines of up £10,000 are being introduced for anyone caught flouting these rules by either having gatherings with more than six people both indoors and outdoors. These rules have not been enforced in workplace or school settings.

This news has not been greeted with a huge amount of positivity, with some saying that lifting these measures for one day only could lead to a massive spike in Covid-19 cases.

Others highlighted that other holidays such as Eid and Diwali haven't been given the same privilege with many of their usual festivities cancelled in order to prevent another spike in cases.

Yahoo News reports that the government are planning to ease the rule of six by December but that it has also been discussed that it could be in place until March.

Johnson has warned in recent days that the UK is now experiencing a second wave of Covid-19 cases as numbers have once again begun to rise. Reports have suggested that the prime minister could be making a televised address to the nation in the next few days about a 'winter lockdown' with Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance also said to be making an address before the prime minister.

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