Coronavirus: Christmas socialising poses 'substantial risks' - scientist

Mixing between households at Christmas could pose 'substantial risks', particularly for older people more vulnerable to coronavirus, a scientist advising the government has warned. Prof Andrew Hayward said there would be a 'cost' to families getting together. It comes as No 10 said proposals to ease restrictions over Christmas will be set out next week. Scientists have suggested that for every day measures are eased, five days of tighter rules would be needed. Prof Hayward, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at University College London, said mixing at Christmas does pose 'substantial risks' particularly where generations 'with high incidence of infection' socialise with older people 'who currently have much lower levels of infection and are at most risk of dying' if they catch Covid-19.