The omicron variable is no cause for panic

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Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, and Mark Drakeford, her Welsh counterpart, have called on the government to go ahead with the new restrictions. In a letter to Mr Johnson, they requested eight days of self-isolation for all newcomers, a Treasury guarantee for further financial support and a Cobra meeting to discuss the omicron.

However, all three requests were denied, with both Downing Street and Mr Javid saying those steps were not necessary – even as they stressed that nothing could be definitively ruled out in the future.

Mr Javid told MPs that if omicron proves to be “no more dangerous” than the UK’s dominant delta variant, the new restrictions will not be held “for a day longer than necessary”. On Tuesday, MPs will vote on the measures – but there was frustration on Monday that they were only given an opinion after the legal changes went into effect.

Details released by the government on Monday night showed that the requirement for new face masks would apply more widely than previously thought, including hair salons and veterinary operations.

Greg Clark, Conservative MP and former Cabinet minister, urged Mr Javid to “avoid taking any panic measures if we see a spike in infections over the coming weeks, as seems inevitable, and instead focus on the efficacy of vaccines against severe disease and hospitalization.” .”.

Mr Javid said Mr Clark was “absolutely right that what matters as we look forward about this new alternative – is, more than anything else, hospitalization”.

The health minister also rejected Labor calls to make face masks mandatory in bars, restaurants and classrooms, telling MPs: “If we are to live with the virus in the long-term, we must follow the evidence and act in a proportionate and responsible manner if the alternative has the potential to thwart our progress.”

“And as we do that, we take a holistic view, looking not just at the impact of these measures on the virus, but the impact on the economy, education and non-Covid health such as mental health.”

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