Boris Johnson announcement – PM confirms New Year is ON & urges everyone to 'act cautiously' amid Omicron spread
12/28/2021NEW Year's Eve festivities have been saved after Sajid Javid announced NO new Covid restrictions will be imposed before January 1.
Millions of Brits are rejoicing this afternoon as the Health Secretary confirmed revellers could welcome in the New Year with their friends and loved ones.
Mr Javid urged Brits to get their booster jabs to protect their communities.
But while there will be no new legal restrictions for England on Monday, that does not rule out country-wide "guidance" which cannot be enforced by cops.
Thousands of Brits have already signed up to The Sun's Jabs Army campaign in bid to slow the spread of Omicron this winter.
Read our Covid-19 live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Louis Allwood
Sajid Javid gives three warnings
Mr Javid warned Brits to remain cautious as we approach the New Year, and to get boosted to ward off serious illness from Covid-19 variants, like Omicron.
It comes as a string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
Addressing the nation last night Mr Javid said: "We look at the data on a daily basis, that hasn't changed over the Christmas period, but there will be no further measures before the new year.
"We won't be taking any further measures, of course people should remain cautious as we approach new year celebrations and take a lateral flow test if that makes sense, celebrate outdoors if you can, have some ventilation indoors if you can.
"Please remain cautious and when we get into the new year of course we will see then if we do need to take any further measures but nothing more until then, at least."
But while there will be no new legal restrictions for England, that does not rule out country-wide "guidance".
- Louis Allwood
Covid restrictions ‘might not even be introduced in new year’
Health chiefs along with the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary reportedly met yesterday and agreed to wait another week to see the results of the vaccination programme.
It comes as a string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
"Well, we look at the data on a daily basis," the Health Secretary told Sky News this afternoon.
"We get the very best advice from our scientists, NHS and we put all that together."
The Health Secretary went on to say that although there is some uncertainty growing around the Omicron variant that it is growing fast and that 90% of all new infections in England are the new strain.
- Louis Allwood
Boris rules out New Year’s Eve restrictions
Boris Johnson has urged partygoers to take care, but defied demands for curbs after data showed Omicron has not overwhelmed hospitals.
Hospitality chief Kate Nicholls said: “This is great news.”
There was anger in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where restrictions remain.
Defying Sage doomsters and fellow gloomsters, the PM decided against imposing any further curbs this year.
Mr Johnson acted after new health data showed the number of people going into hospital with Covid actually fell before Christmas.
- Milica Cosic
PM ‘could beg Brits to follow voluntary guidance’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson could beg Brits to follow voluntary lockdown “guidance” but he will NOT impose new Covid rules in a bid to save New Year’s Eve.
The lack of new rules follows a string of hugely positive studies which show that Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
It was today revealed that Mr Johnson won’t announce any more lockdown restrictions as he was expected to meet with top advisors Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance.
But voluntary guidance could still be issued on several key points.
- Milica Cosic
Madness as Ryanair cancels 1,000s of flights
British Airways yesterday scrapped 50 Boxing Day flights from the UK’s busiest airport, while Ryanair has announced it is cancelling a third of all flights in January.
Covid chaos triggered a wave of cancellations totalling around 8,300 globally between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
Airlines have blamed the highly infectious Omicron variant for causing major staff shortages while pilots and cabin crew self-isolate.
One passenger at Manchester Airport said: “With kids on board, no food and the heightened risk of Covid, though everyone should have had a PCR within 48 hours or lateral flow test with 24 hours, tensions are rising, people are distressed and patience is wearing thin.
“To say the conditions are a disgrace is an understatement.
“To the staff onboard the plane’s credit, they are keeping calm, answering questions and working hard making phone calls to sort out the mountain of issues this has caused.”
- Milica Cosic
Economic impact of another possible lockdown
The economic impact of another shotgun lockdown could devastate Britain’s already hard-hit hospitality industry.
Desperate publicans yesterday wrote to the PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging against new lockdown measures.
The pair were warned a return to the rule of six, table service only or the closure of indoor hospitality would leave many on the brink of closure.
Christmas takings are already down around 40 per cent on pre-pandemic levels — and a bad New Year’s Eve could push many over the edge, pubs warned.
The letter, organised by the Campaign for Pubs and signed by publicans across the country, said: “We are on the brink — in many cases literally on the verge of being unable to carry on, of walking away and of going under.”
It partly blames the Government’s “confused messaging”.
UK Hospitality head Kate Nicholls said: “We urge the PM to stick to current plans.
“There is still much we don’t know about Omicron but we do know the economic and social hit lockdowns and restrictions have so caution is right.”
- Milica Cosic
Explained: What would the voluntary guidance be?
These include a return of the Rule of Six for mixing indoors, and a re-introduction of outdoor-only dining at pubs and restaurants.
Brits will also be urged to limit social contact and keep working from home – alongside additional calls for everyone to get boosted if they are able to.
It is understood that weddings, births, and funerals will be exempt from any new guidance, The Times reports.
- Milica Cosic
Travel chaos with Covid staff shortages
Several rail services are currently experiencing disruption due to staff being ill with Covid-19.
TransPennine Express, ScotRail, Avanti West Coast, Northern Rail, LNER and Greater Anglia have all reported an impact on services caused by a lack of available staff.
Meanwhile, East Midlands Railway services continue to be affected by industrial action by the RMT union, with an amended service expected to run on January 2.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said the disruption could have been avoided if rail companies had taken the concerns of staff seriously.
"The added problem of Covid absences proves that the railway runs at its limits on staffing levels and should mean an immediate halt to threatened staff cuts in the New Year," he added.
- Milica Cosic
A return of the dark days?
It's hoped there will be no return to the dark days of a full shutdown amid cheering news that Omicron is milder than other strains, with the risk of hospitalisation between 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
Ministers are said to be "increasingly optimistic, but very cautiously optimistic" about the ongoing situation, even as cases soar.
- Milica Cosic
Join The Sun's Jab Army
The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
- Milica Cosic
Make sure you know the symptoms
The main symptoms of the virus in both strains were estimated to be:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Fatigue (mild or severe)
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Milica Cosic
Three events that will AVOID any new Covid rules
It is understood that weddings, funerals and births will avoid any freedom-limiting guidelines set to scupper New Years Eve plans.
While a post-meeting announcement is expected, Mr Johnson is unlikely to recall Parliament to rubberstamp legally-binding lockdown restrictions such as the loathed Rule of Six, sources claim.
This means that the introduction of restrictions that would leave Brits' much-anticipated New Year's Eve plans ruined – such as a ban on indoor drinking or the dreaded Rule of Six – will be guidance, and not enforceable by cops.
However, important events – including marriages – will be excluded from any guidelines no matter what, The Times reports.
There will also be no changes to the numbers allowed to attend funerals or births.
- Milica Cosic
A countdown to New Year
As the clock counts down to New Year’s Eve, Government insiders reckon it is growing less likely Parliament will be recalled early to vote on a new lockdown.
Instead, the PM is expected to stick to his plan to roll out boosters at lightning speed.
He may also follow Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon by urging those in England to be cautious over how many people they socialise with if the data is grim.
- Milica Cosic
Kids could be forced to do schoolwork remotely
KIDS could be forced to work from home as gloomy school bosses "plan for the worst" due to Covid-related staff shortages.
But miserable headteachers’ unions bosses claim a lack of staff means kids might have to go back to computer-based learning at home – even if there are no lockdown restrictions forcing them to.
In a nightmare move for working parents, schools have already sorted out worst-case-scenario plans should too many teaching staff be sick or self-isolating.
Certain primary and secondary schools have sent kids home armed with textbooks and laptops just in case they do their own self-prescribed shutdown.
Alternative plans would see only pupils in years 11 and 13 allowed to stay in the classroom – with everyone else sent away.
Any disruption to teaching is likely until at least Easter – and retired teachers are being urged to return to work to help fill in.
- Milica Cosic
'London cases have been rising rapidly'
Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE Covid Study app, said: “Omicron is set to be the dominant strain in the UK by Christmas, and in the New Year cases could hit a peak higher than anything we’ve ever seen before.
“In London cases have been rising rapidly, but this will likely slow down soon, as people change their behaviour, such as wearing face masks again, cancelling parties and working from home more.
“Hopefully people now recognise the cold-like symptoms which appear to be the predominant feature of Omicron.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that the window between infection and infectiousness may be shorter for the Omicron variant, making it able to spread faster.
- Milica Cosic
Headteachers 'hoping for best but planning for the worst'
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told the Telegraph headteachers were “hoping for the best but planning for the worst”.
He told the publication: “If you have a fixed pool available of those who can teach young people, then the only final resort schools and colleges have is to start thinking about the certain year groups that should be prioritised in the short term.”
Students in years 11 and 13 may continue to attend, while other year groups remain at home, he said.
- Milica Cosic
School bosses draw up plans for January
School chiefs have warned the Prime Minister they may be forced to prioritise key age groups for time in the classroom in January.
Others could be told to stay at home and learn remotely, it's understood.
The biggest threat to keeping children on school grounds will be high numbers of teachers forced into self-isolation after testing positive for Covid, it's believed.
Schools may still face difficulties in the weeks to come, with The Sun exclusively reporting last week that there's trouble ahead.
Primary schools in villages and small towns are especially at risk of teacher shortages, given they have small numbers of staff, it's reported.
Disruption is likely until at least Easter – and retired teachers are being urged to return to work to help fill in, with hundreds reportedly answering the call.
- Milica Cosic
PM fights to save New Year’s Eve
Sources claim that the PM is unlikely to recall Parliament to rubberstamp legally-binding lockdown restrictions such as the loathed Rule of Six.
This means that the introduction of restrictions that would leave Brits' much-anticipated New Year's Eve plans ruined are looking increasingly unlikely, the Daily Mail reports.
- Milica Cosic
The 8 Omicron signs to watch out for
Eight signs have been identified as key in knowing if you might have caught the variant.
These are: a scratchy throat, runny nose, fatigue, sneezing, lower back pain, headache, night sweats and muscle aches.
Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE Covid App Symptom study, said: “Hopefully people now recognise the cold-like symptoms which appear to be the predominant feature of Omicron.”
Their latest analysis showed only half of the people currently suffering with Covid are experiencing the classic three symptoms listed on the NHS.
These are fever, a cough or loss of smell or taste.
A booster shot is the best protection against Omicron, with early data suggesting it pushes efficacy back up to 75 per cent.
- Milica Cosic
In other Covid-19 news
- Kids could be forced to work from home as gloomy school bosses "plan for the worst" due to Covid-related staff shortages;
- A huge update on coronavirus figures is expected this afternoon with infections being released at 4pm, for the first time since Christmas Eve;
- Weddings, funerals and births will not be restricted under Covid measures.
The 8 Omicron signs to watch out for
Eight signs have been identified as key in knowing if you might have caught the variant.
These are: a scratchy throat, runny nose, fatigue, sneezing, lower back pain, headache, night sweats and muscle aches.
Professor Tim Spector, who leads the ZOE Covid App Symptom study, said: “Hopefully people now recognise the cold-like symptoms which appear to be the predominant feature of Omicron.”
Their latest analysis showed only half of the people currently suffering with Covid are experiencing the classic three symptoms listed on the NHS.
These are fever, a cough or loss of smell or taste.
A booster shot is the best protection against Omicron, with early data suggesting it pushes efficacy back up to 75 per cent.
- John Hall
Kids could be forced to do schoolwork remotely
KIDS could be forced to work from home as gloomy school bosses "plan for the worst" due to Covid-related staff shortages.
But miserable headteachers’ unions bosses claim a lack of staff means kids might have to go back to computer-based learning at home – even if there are no lockdown restrictions forcing them to.
In a nightmare move for working parents, schools have already sorted out worst-case-scenario plans should too many teaching staff be sick or self-isolating.
Certain primary and secondary schools have sent kids home armed with textbooks and laptops just in case they do their own self-prescribed shutdown.
Alternative plans would see only pupils in years 11 and 13 allowed to stay in the classroom – with everyone else sent away.
Any disruption to teaching is likely until at least Easter – and retired teachers are being urged to return to work to help fill in.
- John Hall
Massive Covid announcement expected at 4pm TODAY
A HUGE announcement on coronavirus figures is expected this afternoon with infections being updated at 4pm, for the first time since Christmas Eve.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing for crunch talks with his advisers today on the spread of the mutant Omicron variant.
Today the PM, along with medical advisers Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance will trawl through new numbers on Covid rates in Omicron ground-zero London.
The latest data states that around one in 20 people in London were suffering with Covid – with one in 35 picking up the bug across the rest of the country.
Last week the most infected areas in the country were all in London and hospitalisations had also risen in the capital.
In London, a total of 386 Covid-19 admissions were recorded by hospitals in London on December 22.
- John Hall
PM fights to save New Year’s Eve
Sources claim that the PM is unlikely to recall Parliament to rubberstamp legally-binding lockdown restrictions such as the loathed Rule of Six.
This means that the introduction of restrictions that would leave Brits' much-anticipated New Year's Eve plans ruined are looking increasingly unlikely, the Daily Mail reports.
- John Hall
Headteachers 'hoping for best but planning for the worst'
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told the Telegraph headteachers were “hoping for the best but planning for the worst”.
He told the publication: “If you have a fixed pool available of those who can teach young people, then the only final resort schools and colleges have is to start thinking about the certain year groups that should be prioritised in the short term.”
Students in years 11 and 13 may continue to attend, while other year groups remain at home, he said.
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