Residents of the Isles of Scilly have said they are apprehensive despite enjoying a “very strange early Christmas present” in being the only area of England in Tier 1 from Boxing Day.
The islands’ population of 2,000 will be the only people still under England’s most lenient Covid restrictions from December 26, after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced new measures on Wednesday evening.
Hospitality venues will continue to be allowed to open with table service on the isles, with the “rule of six” applying indoors and outdoors.
“It’s a very strange early Christmas present… part of a very, very privileged 0.004%,” local councillor Steve Sims, 62, told the PA news agency.