A five-day Christmas break from Covid-19 restrictions will likely lead to more ‘unnecessary’ deaths and a third wave, a top Government scientist has warned.

The UK’s four nations last night announced three separate households will be allowed to form bubbles and gather indoors from December 23 to 27 to enjoy Christmas together.

But Sage member Professor Andrew Hayward warned the rules are ‘effectively throwing fuel on the Covid fire’ and will wreak chaos on the NHS.

He told BBC2’s Newsnight: ‘I think it will definitely lead to increased transmission. It is likely to lead to a third wave of infection, with hospitals being overrun, and more unnecessary deaths.

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‘We are still in a country where we have got high levels of infection with Covid, particularly in young people. Bringing them together for hours, let alone days, with elderly relatives, I think, is a recipe for regret for many families.

‘With the vaccine on the way, if we are not very careful over Christmas we are really in danger of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on this one.’

Under the plan, hashed out in a meeting between the UK Government and devolved nations on Tuesday, travel restrictions will also be lifted during the five days.

Those travelling to and from Northern Ireland will be granted an extra day to travel on either side of the window.

Although ministers from the devolved nations warned this festive season cannot be ‘normal’ they hoped the rules would provide some relief for families who have been separated this year – but the decision has been met with significant backlash by a number of scientists and medical experts.

The British Medical Association (BMA) warned the virus ‘does not discriminate against certain days of the year’ and that easing restrictions will ‘almost certainly’ lead to a rise in the infection rate.

BMA UK council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said ‘it is absolutely vital’ people adopt the necessary safety precautions if mixing with other households, such as ventilating rooms and limiting physical contact when masks are not worn.

He said: ‘There is a careful balance to be struck when weighing up the risks associated with Covid-19 and the understandable wish to see loved ones this Christmas.

‘Relaxing the rules on indoor mixing for a five-day period will almost certainly carry the risk of a rise in infection rate and possibly more hospitalisation and deaths, adding further pressure on the health service, doctors and NHS staff…

‘The priority now must be to support the public to adhere to stringent rules around physical distancing and infection control to drive down the infection rates further by Christmas. The lower the level of infection the less risk it will place for families to meet at Christmas.’

An announcement on which tier each authority will be placed under, is set to be announced on Thursday after the latest data has been collected.

It has previously been warned that for every day restrictions are lifted, another five days of harsh measures will be needed to offset the spread of the virus.

After nearly three weeks since the nationwide restrictions were imposed, the Department of Health reported a significant drop in case numbers on Tuesday.

But experts, including Professor Paul Hunter of the Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, warn they could go right back up as a result of easing the rules over Christmas.

He said: ‘Any relaxation of the restrictions over the Christmas period will almost inevitably lead to some increase in transmission and therefore, illness, hospitalisations and sadly deaths.’

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