Boris Johnson announcement: Britain will remain lockdown-free as data is reviewed & PM says Omicron is 'plainly milder'
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has said that Britain will continue "on the path we are on" and remain lockdown-free.
However, No10 is set to look over the current Plan B measures on Wednesday as Government reviews Omicron data.
Meanwhile, Denmark's top health boss has said that normal life could return in just two months as the Omicron variant is helping end the Covid pandemic.
On Monday evening, new figures have revealed hospital admissions have fallen in London for the first time since the Omicron variant emerged.
The promising news comes despite the latest 45 per cent rise in coronavirus cases, as 42 new fatalities were logged.
Meanwhile, a further 106, 665 people have taken up a booster shot in the last 24 hours – with the total of triple vaxed individuals now standing at 34, 205,472.
Read our Covid-19 live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Milica Cosic
'We can’t jab the whole planet every 6 months'
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, the chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), says society must soon reopen fully.
Sir Andrew told the Telegraph: “The worst is absolutely behind us. We just need to get through the winter.”
He said there should never be another lockdown, telling the publication: “At some point, society has to open up.
"When we do open, there will be a period with a bump in infections, which is why winter is probably not the best time.
“But that’s a decision for the policy makers, not the scientists.
"Our approach has to switch, to rely on the vaccines and the boosters. The greatest risk is still the unvaccinated.”
And he cautioned against endless booster roll-outs.
“We can’t vaccinate the planet every four to six months," he said.
"It’s not sustainable or affordable. In the future, we need to target the vulnerable.”
- Milica Cosic
Don’t forget a test before going to school
All students and staff are expected to be tested for the virus on day one of the spring term as planned after the Education Secretary secured millions of kits.
Zahawi delivered 28million test packs to schools between December 6 and 17, and a further 17.6million are to be sent out by January 14.
This is sufficient for testing when schools reopen on Tuesday, but a global lateral flow shortage could shut classes down in the weeks that follow.
That’s because teachers may be forced to stay at home for 10 days after testing positive – despite self-isolation being slashed to just seven.
- Milica Cosic
Omicron symptoms that could mean you need urgent treatment
Some of these signs can occur on your skin, lips, or nails, and it’s recommended that if you do notice them, you get them checked by your GP.
According to health experts in America at the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), one symptom can be a pale, grey or blue-coloured tinge on your skin, lips or nail beds.
The CDC warns a blueish colour in your skin, lips and nails could be a sign of low-oxeygen levels.
The US health experts describe any occurrence of the symptom as “emergency warning signs”, and say people should get them checked out by a medical professional straight away.
Other unusual signs of Omicron include lower back pain, a hoarse or scratchy voice, night sweats, aching muscles and a runny nose.
- Louis Allwood
"At the moment there's nothing in the data to suggest we need to go further"
Scientists believe the full effects of the Christmas period may not show up in the data until the end of this week.
And Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News this morning: "At the moment there's nothing in the data to suggest we need to go further but of course, we will look at the Wednesday review and then beyond that keep monitoring the data very carefully."
He added that the numbers of people in hospital with coronavirus have begun to rise in the over-50s, "which we are concerned about, but on the whole, actually the number of people in ICU [intensive care] has come down, which is good news".
- Louis Allwood
Can I still have the Covid booster if I have a cold?
The short answer is yes.
If you are certain it is not Covid you are suffering with and you are well enough to leave home, you can get your third shot with confidence.
It might make you feel a bit rougher than if you weren’t ill, but overall it’s perfectly safe – and you can emerge from your sickly funk safe in the knowledge you are protected against coronavirus.
A cold shouldn’t have an impact on your body’s ability to build an immune response to the flu, even though it is fighting an illness.
NHS guidance says you should still attend your appointment even if you have a mild illness, including a common cold.
If you have Covid symptoms, are self-isolating or waiting for your coronavirus test result, you should not attend your appointment.
It’s easy to rearrange your slot through the booking system.
- Louis Allwood
ALL Southern trains into London Victoria cancelled
Southern Rail confirmed all journeys to and from the central London station have been called off until January 10 due to Covid-related staff shortages.
Trains will no longer call at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Common.
Routes from further afield – including from Southampton, Hove, Hastings and East Grinstead – are being diverted so passengers can reach the capital.
But Clapham Junction to Milton Keynes, East Croydon to London Bridge, and Epsom to London Bridge will not run at all.
- Louis Allwood
Boosters provide the most protection
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.
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.
- Louis Allwood
Boris Johnson set to delay Covid restrictions announcement
BORIS Johnson is set to delay his announcement on Covid restrictions until ministers have assessed the possible effects of Christmas mixing, it has been reported.
No10 is due to review the current Plan B measures on Wednesday, when parliament returns from recess.
But ministers believe any changes to the rules – either stripping the country of Plan B measures or mirroring tougher restrictions like those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are unlikely.
A source told the i: “We are cautiously optimistic for now, but things could change in a single day.”
Daily cases and hospitalisations have grown rapidly in the last fortnight, with the number of Covid patients reaching its highest level since February.
- Louis Allwood
Hospital trust declares ‘critical’ incident
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said it was "unable to maintain safe staffing levels" leading to "compromised care" across its sites.
An alert from the Trust said the staffing levels at Lincoln County Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital in Boston was causing the "compromised care."
The "critical" incident was announced late last night and has continued into today.
The hospitals said they are currently unable to support and staff "key pathways" – including stroke, cardiac care, and urgent care.
It's not clear if surgeries are continuing to take place during the unprecedented staff shortage caused by surging Covid infections.
- Louis Allwood
School ventilation
The Government announced that a further 7,000 air cleaning units will be rolled out to classrooms across the country.
Thousands of new air filters will be introduced to protect face-to-face education and minimise disruption, ahead of the pupils returning to the classroom this week.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has announced an additional 7,000 air cleaning units to be provided to early years, schools and colleges to improve ventilation in teaching spaces.
- Louis Allwood
Unvaccinated mum and dad both die of Covid
Alvaro Fernandez, 44, and his wife Sylvia, 42, both passed away on the same day after not getting their jabs.
The couple were high school sweethearts who had been married for 25 years after first getting together when they were just 15.
Alvaro and Sylvia had four children together, including 17-year-old twins.
The couple died within hours of each other on December 19 after catching Covid just days earlier, family said.
Neither of them had received the jab.
Family said that Alvaro had actively refused the jab, while Sylvia had been open to it but did not get her first dose in time.
Relatives have now set up a fundraising page to help support their four children who have lost their mum and dad.
- Louis Allwood
Further restrictions
THE Prime Minister is NOT expected to impose further restrictions when Plan B is reviewed this week, The Sun has been told.
Whitehall sources say the PM is set to "maintain the status quo" of indoor mask-wearing, working from home advice and vaccine passports on Wednesday.
But in a New Year boost he's likely to hold off announcing dreaded measures like the Rule of Six or return to outdoor pints. Ministers are being driven by encouraging evidence showing Omicron is up to 70 per cent milder than Delta and appears vulnerable to booster jabs.
- Louis Allwood
Covid experts among New Year Honors
Among 1,122 people receiving awards are tennis player Emma Raducanu, Olympians and Paralympians, and actor Daniel Craig.
Leading figures of science and medicine during the coronavirus pandemic have been feted in the Queen’s new year honours list. This also includes chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, who is to receive a knighthood.
The teenage tennis star Emma Raducanu – praised for her “remarkable achievement at such a young age” by the Queen and is to be awarded an MBE.
Other sports personnel include Olympians and Paralympians cyclist Jody Cundy, who gets a CBE, and sprinter and cyclist Kadeena Cox, who receives an OBE.
Actors Joanna Lumley and Vanessa Redgrave become dames for their services to drama, entertainment and charity.
Alongside them, actor Daniel Craig receives the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for outstanding contribution to film.
- Louis Allwood
Teachers told to combine classes to deal with Covid staff shortages
The Department of Education warned schools to begin preparing for a chaotic return on Sunday night ahead of students returning this week.
Headteachers have been told to use support staff to fill in, while merging classes and a return to online learning are also on the cards.
It comes after ministers discussed scrapping face-to-face learning again as a crippling number of Covid-related absences hit the teaching workforce.
Experts have urged Boris Johnson to slash isolation for those who test positive down to five days in a bid to secure teachers behind desks.
Now the Department of Education told schools to pool together their resources as shortages threaten to wreak havoc on children's education once again.
The email, published by The Guardian, read: "You may wish to use existing teaching, temporary and support staff more flexibly where required to ensure your setting remains open, while ensuring that you continue to have appropriate support in place for pupils with [special education needs and disabilities].
"As pupils do not need to be kept in consistent groups, you may wish to consider combining classes.
"Where there is a need for remote education, live streaming is the preferred method for providing this wherever possible."
- Louis Allwood
Runny nose or Covid?
Covid-19 rates are high, and while you may know the NHS' three key symptoms – high temperature, a new continuous cough, loss or change to sense of taste and smell – there are a range of other stealth signs to look out for.
Experts say Omicron doesn't tend to present in the same way as Delta and previous variants.
According to experts there a few cold-like symptoms you must never ignore.
A runny nose – which you might just dismiss as a classic winter bug – is thought to be a sign of Omicron.
The ZOE experts said: "This may come as a surprise to some, as the UK government never updated guidance on Covid symptoms beyond the classic three symptoms."
At the moment it appears symptoms such as as runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat, are among those being most recorded.
- Louis Allwood
Sign up to The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign
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.
Boris Johnson has begged millions of people to book their first, second or booster jabs in now to protect them from the virus, admitting that cases of omicron are still rising.
- Louis Allwood
Profiteers flog free NHS Covid tests for up to £100
Ministers announced this morning that every pupil will be tested in classrooms before starting term.
But thousands of working Brits are struggling to get their hands on the DIY lateral flow kits, which have sold out in pharmacies and are regularly unavailable online.
Soaring cases of the Omicron variant have sparked a shortage across Britain, where another 137,583 Covid cases were recorded yesterday along with 73 deaths.
However, The Sun discovered tests — free from the government website — being snapped up online for up to £100 at independent auction houses, Facebook and eBay.
Such shameless profiteering sparked outrage from MPs, with Tory Nigel Mills fuming: “It is a disgrace that some people would try to exploit a national shortage of tests as a way to make money.
"The online websites and any auction houses should refuse to list the tests for sale.”
- Louis Allwood
Bin collections CANCELLED
Councils in Manchester, Essex, Somerset and Buckinghamshire have scaled back and in some cases cancelled bin collections as staff absences have risen by a quarter.
Chelmsford council said 23 members of staff were absent and cancelled three days’ worth of rubbish collecting.
While Lincolnshire United Hospitals declared a critical incident because of “extreme and unprecedented” staff shortages.
It comes as the Government is set to announce plans to prioritise public sector workers for lateral flow tests as they expect 25 per cent to be absent from work.
The Local Government Association said bin collectors should also be prioritised for tests.
- Louis Allwood
PM set to avoid new Covid restrictions this week
No10 is set to review current restrictions this week but are not expected to make any changes.
Current Plan B measures – for Covid passes and masks in some settings – will be reviewed this week but insiders are not expecting anything to change.
Health minister Ed Agar has said: “I’m seeing nothing in the data right in front of me in the immediate situation, that suggests a need for further restrictions.”
“We need cool, calm heads. We need to look at the data and we need to do everything possible to avoid any restrictions – restrictions or curbs must be the absolute last resort.”
The minister said Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Sajid Javid are monitoring the data every day.
- Milica Cosic
Covid news you may have missed
- Boris Johnson has vowed that schoolchildren won't have to wear face masks 'a day longer than is necessary'
- A doctor has warned Brits should isolate if they have a cold – in advice that could cripple the economy and the NHS
- Some hospitals have declared critical incidents after the Omicron mutation led to staff off sick
- The world's strictest lockdown in – where else – China isn't working, with cases rising regardless of the restrictions
- Lateral flow tests are selling for £100 on eBay as ruthless scalpers capitalise on the national shortage
‘Society has to open up at some point’
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, the chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), says society must soon reopen fully.
Sir Andrew told the Telegraph: “The worst is absolutely behind us. We just need to get through the winter.”
He said there should never be another lockdown, telling the publication: “At some point, society has to open up.
"When we do open, there will be a period with a bump in infections, which is why winter is probably not the best time.
“But that’s a decision for the policy makers, not the scientists.
"Our approach has to switch, to rely on the vaccines and the boosters. The greatest risk is still the unvaccinated.”
- Milica Cosic
UK reports on Covid cases
The UK reported 157,758 new Covid cases today and 42 additional deaths.
Cases rose by 50% between 28 December and 3 January compared with the week before. Deaths rose 17% during the same period compared with the previous seven days.
On Wednesday there were 11,918 patients in hospital with Covid – 868 of whom were on beds with a mechanical ventilator.
- Milica Cosic
Boris Johnson warns Brits to 'remain cautious'
As the NHS has warned of staffing pressures, Boris Johnson said the government was looking at what it could do to "move people into those areas that are particularly badly affected".
He said: "Looking at the pressures on the NHS in the next couple of weeks and maybe longer… looking at the numbers of people who are going to be going into hospital, it would be absolute folly to say that this thing is all over now bar the shouting.
"We've got to remain cautious, we've got to stick with plan B, we've got to get boosted."
- Milica Cosic
Covid news you may have missed
- Hospital admissions FALL in London for first time since Omicron variant emerged – as UK Covid cases increase by 45%
- Normal life could be back in just TWO MONTHS as Omicron is helping end the pandemic, says top health boss
- Omicron symptoms on skin, lips & nails could mean you need urgent treatment
- Chinese authorities ‘raid homes at midnight & put people on buses to quarantine camps’ in world’s strictest lockdown
ALL Southern trains into London Victoria cancelled
Southern Rail confirmed all journeys to and from the central London station have been called off until January 10 due to Covid-related staff shortages.
Trains will no longer call at London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Common.
Routes from further afield – including from Southampton, Hove, Hastings and East Grinstead – are being diverted so passengers can reach the capital.
But Clapham Junction to Milton Keynes, East Croydon to London Bridge, and Epsom to London Bridge will not run at all.
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