Due to Bojo's worrying popularity in the polls (like they're not rigged!), he's decided to push the 'Christmas Lockdown' button
just enough to keep his fellow-Journalists in work over the Yuletide period. Remember, officially there are over 66 million
people in the UK.
just enough to keep his fellow-Journalists in work over the Yuletide period. Remember, officially there are over 66 million
people in the UK.
Quote:Travel and mask rules tightened over Omicron variantBBC:
'Face coverings will become mandatory again in shops and on public transport in England from next week under a raft
of measures to target the new Covid variant, Omicron, the PM has said. PCR tests for everyone entering the UK will be
introduced and all contacts of new variant cases will have to self-isolate, even if fully jabbed.
The Jester.
But Boris Johnson said Christmas would be "considerably better" than in 2020.
The measures were "temporary and precautionary", he added.
Mr Johnson announced the restrictions at a Downing Street news conference after it was confirmed that two Omicron cases
had been detected in Brentwood, Essex, and Nottingham. Officials said the cases were linked and connected to travel in
southern Africa. The new variant was first reported from South Africa on Wednesday, with early evidence suggesting it has
a higher re-infection risk.
Mr Johnson said: "We need to slow down the spread of this variant here in the UK, because measures at the border can only
ever minimise and delay the arrival of a new variant rather than stop it all together." He said the new measures would be
reviewed in three weeks, by which time they should have better information about the "continuing effectiveness" of vaccines.
The prime minister said the "tightening up" of the mask rules will be outlined by Health Secretary Sajid Javid "in the next day
or so" Covid restrictions were tightened across the UK days before Christmas last year amid a surge in cases.
Asked by the BBC's Iain Watson if the prime minister could say with any confidence whether or not people could keep their
Christmas plans this year, Mr Johnson replied: "We continue to be in a strong position largely thanks to the speed of the vaccine
rollout, another booster rollout, and... I'm pretty confident to absolutely confident this Christmas will be considerably better than
last Christmas."
Countries around the world are introducing travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain the
variant's spread.
Under the plans:
*Everyone entering the UK will have to take PCR test by the second day of their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative
result
*All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of whether or not they are fully jabbed
*Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport - but hospitality settings will be exempt from the changes
*The health secretary is to ask advisers to consider rapidly extending boosters, including reducing the gap between the second dose
of the vaccine and the booster
*The UK's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said was a "reasonable chance" that vaccines could be less effective against the new
variant but stressed people who are vaccinated or receive the booster jab will be less likely to become seriously ill.
He said the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation would now need to decide whether to extend the booster vaccine down
to adults age 18, and whether a second dose should be offered to children aged 12-15.He did not indicate when PCR tests would begin
and in a press release the Department of Health only said it was among the measures being "introduced from next week"...'
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.