let's speak to stephen reicher, professor of social psychology at the university of st andrew's and ap to sage. do you think the government has done the right thing or is this too late? it probably should have been done before and even before the information about the new variant it was pretty clear that if we mix together it could lead to a huge spike in the level of infections in overwhelm the nhs are the modelling was suggesting that if everybody went to the limit of the rules, they met with three households of the five days, the likelihood is the r rate would go through the roof to about 3.5. even if only half of us mixed with two households, then the rate could well go up to 1.5 which would still be far too much, so in many ways this was inevitable and the information about the new variant just the information about the new variantjust made the information about the new variant just made it the information about the new variantjust made it clear that nobody could gnaw at it also its the right decision. -- ignore. what would happen next in terms of what the government should do ne

earlier i spoke to stephen reicher — professor of social psychology at the university of st andrews andment's scientific advisory group for emergencies. i asked him if the move from boris johnson should have come sooner i probably should have depend on before and i think even before the information about the new variant it was pretty clear that if we mixed together it could lead to a huge spike in the level of infections in the nhs and so modelling was suggesting that if everybody went to the limit of the rules and met with three helsel 05 days likelihood is that the rate would go through the roof to about three, three .5. even if only half of us mixed for, with two households, then the rate could well go up toi.5 two households, then the rate could well go up to 1.5 which is far too much. i think this was inevitable and the information about the new variantjust made and the information about the new variant just made it and the information about the new variantjust made it so much that nobody could ignore at all so yes is the right decision. would he thinks to happen next in terms of t

stephen reicher is professor of social psychology at the university of st andrews. estrictions, and the likelihood of people adhering to the new rules. behaviour is critical but remember, many of the behaviours which spread the infection are perfectly within the infection are perfectly within the rules and i think the problem was before that people were being told they could mix with up to two other households over five days, and it was suggested that it people led those rules, the art rate would go through the roof to between 2.8 and 3.5. so we have to be careful not to blame people, but behaviour clearly is critical, and equally, it is going to be critical over the next few days whether people go along with the rules are not because that will make the difference between whether the infection will spread, 01’ whether the infection will spread, or whether the new variant will spread or whether we can stay in control and might have a third wave that overwhelms the nhs. do you think, though, that people are getting locked and fatigue? you do getting locked and fatigue?

infrastructure in place, in st andrews in scotland, across the uk, the aim is to limit the risks so university christmas plans vary. in england and, students are being asked to travel by the 9th ofinstead staggered date to avoid a surge of travellers. for the new university term after christmas, a slow, delayed return from early january to february to avoid a repeat of the campus outbreaks earlier this year. so when they come back injanuary, we will be able to test them when they come back on the campus. they will get two tests, and if they are negative, they can then start their courses straightaway. if they are positive, they will have to get a test from the nhs and they would go into a self—isolation period. stu d e nts students are much more aware now that they can be vectors spreading covid—i9, said the hope is most will seek to protect their families. five seconds of discomfort versus being in hospital with tubes down you, not really much of a question. but what is a question is whether reuniting families for the holiday and then bringing students back again can be done without exceeding new infections. damian grammaticas, bbc news. our education correspondent danjohnson i

st andrews in scotland. across the uk the aim is to try to limit the risks. so university christmas plans vary. in england and wales, students are being asked to travel by the 9th ofaggered dates to avoid a surge of travellers all at once. and for the new university term after christmas, a slow delayed return from early january until february to avoid a repeat of the campus outbreaks earlier this year. so, when they come back injanuary, we will be able to test them when they come back on the campus. they will get to tests, and if they are negative of course they can start their courses straightaway. if they were positive, they would have to get a test from the nhs and then they would go into a self isolation period. students are much more aware now that they can be vectors spreading covid—19, so the hope as most will seek to protect their families. five seconds of uncomfort versus being in hospital with tubes down you, it's not really much of a question, is it? but what is a question is whether reuniting families for the holiday and then bringing students back again can be done without ceding new infections. now it's time for a look at the weather with darren bett