Boris Johnson hosts a meeting of his top team aimed at rubber-stamping new rules for exiting England's second national lockdown on December 2 today.
Different areas will be plunged into a beefed-up tiered regime of regional restrictions, with a few days' break expected over the festive period so families can meet.
Most of the country is expected to be banned from mixing indoors with other households until March when ministers hope a vaccination programme will be nearing completion.
But the Government is desperate for relatives to be able to see each other for between three and five days over Christmas. The Prime Minister is expected to unveil details in the Commons on Monday.
Read more on mirror.co.uk