‘Hope UK can turn it around for Christmas’ Hancock says despite new 6-person gathering law

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MATT Hancock today said he hoped the UK could “turn it around” in time for a normal Christmas – despite a new coronavirus law banning gatherings of more than six coming into play from Monday.

The Health Secretary insisted that the new rules will be in place “for the forseeable future” and it was too early to be thinking about the winter holiday period at the moment.

Matt Hancock said he hoped things could get back to normal by Christmas but there could be no guarantees

Boris Johnson will today tell the nation that in order to curb the recent spike in coronavirus cases he will ban all gatherings of more than six people – with exceptions for workplaces, weddings, schools and funerals.

He is expected to give a press conference at around 4pm.

And anyone caught in a group will face a minimum of £100 fine.

The laws will be around for the “foreseeable future”, Mr Hancock told Radio 4 today.

However, he gave hope for millions that they may be able to have a normal Christmas, adding: “I really hope we can turn this around before Christmas”.

He was also asked on LBC: “Does this mean Christmas is cancelled?”

He replied: “I hope not but we clearly need to act. This is a really simple rule which says you cannot socialise with more than six people.”

It came as:

  • Mr Hancock also revealed venues will be forced to get customers details for track and trace in case there’s an outbreak at a pub or cafe
  • But he insisted it was still safe for people to go back to work as most of the new cases were coming from social settings
  • Plans to trial mass gatherings again at Doncaster races could be scrapped after the rise in cases
  • Alarming figures revealed there were almost 2,500 new cases in the UK yesterday — following two straight days of 3,000 new infections.
  • The number of Covid-related deaths in the UK also hit 32 yesterday — the highest for weeks.

Last week Mr Hancock sparked hopes the nation could have a ‘normal’ Christmas with hugs and family gatherings – if mass testing works or a vaccine is found.

The Health Secretary said he would love to promise a Christmas that everyone was “yearning” for but couldn’t make any firm vows.

He urged the nation to “pull together” and stick to social distancing.

“And maybe, just maybe we can have that Christmas everyone wants us to see.”

But he later said a vaccine was not likely until the new year.

The PM will announce the 6-person rule changes at Downing Street today with chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

He is expected to say: “We need to act now to stop the virus spreading. So we are simplifying and strengthening the rules on social contact — making them easier to understand and for the police to enforce.

“It is absolutely critical people now abide by these rules and remember the basics — washing hands, covering your face, keeping space from others, and getting a test if you have symptoms.”

Health Secretary Mr Hancock yesterday warned MPs that the UK was on the brink of a second Covid peak.

Boris Johnson will give his first press conference since July later today

He said Britain has seen a “concerning rise” in coronavirus infections which could lead to more deaths in just a matter of weeks.

He went on: “Each and every citizen has a responsibility to follow social distancing and help stop a second peak.”