GOOD Morning Britain viewers have accused the show of “giving tips” on how to leave Tier 4 during the coronavirus pandemic today.
Brits living in London, the south-east and Wales have been banned from travelling outside Tier 4 over Christmas after tougher lockdown measures were enforced yesterday to combat a rogue new strain of Covid.
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But many GMB viewers were unaware that there are exemptions for support bubbles and for separated parents and their children.
Speaking about the restrictions Adil, 46, revealed he had reached out to the Government after the original plan to allow people to form social bubbles over five days over Christmas was thrown out.
He said today: “I checked this last night around support bubbles and if you are in Tier 4 you can meet your support bubbles if you have an existing support bubble outside of Tier 4, you can travel to a different tier and you can stay overnight. Though the government say it’s not ideal.
“It gives a little bit of reassurance to people especially the vulnerable who are going to be entirely alone over Christmas.”
Show medic Dr Sarah Jarvis added: “I’m really glad Adil that you mentioned support bubbles.
“The idea is you have a support bubble in the same tier but if you live on your own, if you’re a parent with a child under 18 or a child with a disability, you can bubble with another family and that does include Christmas Day and Tier 4.
“But, remember if you live on your own there is a reason we’re in lockdown, Covid doesn’t take into account the fact you are lonely, please be careful.”
Adil repeated the loopholes for support bubbles later in the show but many viewers believed his comments could encourage people who aren’t exempt to leave Tier 4.
One tweeted: “GMB Has Adil read the Government Guidelines…they are very strict for Tier4 you can’t just say I’ve got a support Bubble the guidelines give criteria and it’s niche!”
Another said: “GMB giving tips on how to get round distancing restriction. #GMB”
As one more typed: “GMB..adil ray…this is how you get round the rules..bloody hell..”
The areas in the new Tier 4 from tonight at midnight
Kent
Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Surrey (excluding Waverley)
The boroughs of Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings
All 32 London boroughs and the city of London.
Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Luton, Peterborough
Hertfordshire
Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)
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The new strain – said to be 70% more contagious – has been blamed for a surge in positive cases in London.
More than 350,000 people have now had the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Boris said on Saturday: “We know the vaccine is arriving, things will be radically different by Easter.”