16 Dec 2020

Covid-19: English experts warn loosening restrictions will cost lives

From Morning Report, 6:45 am on 16 December 2020

A relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions for the Christmas period in England has prompted two medical journals to release a rare joint statement, urging the government to reconsider - warning the decision "will cost many lives".

The British Medical Journal and Health Service Journal said the government could no longer claim to be protecting the NHS if it goes ahead with its plans to allow households to mix indoors over Christmas.

A top government official, Stephen Barclay, says the government does "not want to criminalise" people coming together at Christmas.

London correspondent Olly Barratt speaks to Corin Dann.