Backlash following reports government will lift rule of six for 24 hours on Christmas Day

Christmas Day started trending on Twitter on Sunday amid rumours that the government will lift the Rule of Six for 24 hours to allow families to celebrate together.

The potential move, reported in the Sun on Sunday, sparked thousands of tweets as people aired their views on the idea of current rules being lifted for one day.

It comes as the government announced the introduction of fines of up to £10,000 for people who flout self-isolation rules in a bid to encourage people to stick to them.

Watch: What is the new ‘Rule of six’?

Concerns are growing that lockdown measures will have to be reinstated to slow the spread of coronavirus following a rise in infection rates over the past few weeks.

Last week the government introduced the so-called ‘Rule of Six’, which forbids the gathering of any groups of more than six, indoors or outdoors, in England.

But according to the Sun on Sunday, Boris Johnson is considering relaxing the rule for 24 hours over Christmas Day amid concerns he will be portrayed as a ‘Scrooge’ by preventing people from getting together with their families.

The report sparked a widespread response online, with many suggesting that people should be willing to forgo large family gatherings at Christmas in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Others pointed out that no such move was made during Eid to allow large gatherings.

But some said not being able to spend Christmas with loved ones would have a huge effect.

Piers Morgan tweeted: “So everyone gets Covid for Christmas! Guy’s a genius”.

Journalist and author Will Black wrote: “Lifting the rule of 6 for Christmas day is not only effin stupid and undermining of all messaging but it is a slap in the face to clinicians that work Christmas and then face a massive spike in the new year.”

Others alluded to the idea that a virus would ‘take the day off’ while some speculated on the possibility of a surge in coronavirus cases two weeks after Christmas.

According to reports, the government was planning for the rule of six to be in place at least until the beginning of December, but are believed to have discussed it being in place potentially until March.

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