Boris Johnson calls cabinet meeting as Christmas lockdown fears grow

[ad_1]

B

Oris Johnson called a cabinet meeting where top scientists called on ministers to force a lockdown before Christmas.

Cabinet is expected to meet at 2pm to discuss three possible options for restrictions as Omicron cases rise across the UK.

Options include a modest set of restrictions, with the prime minister urging families to limit internal contacts. However, this will not be legally enforced, according to the Telegraph.

The second option that would legally restrict family mixing, see the return of social distancing and an 8 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants.

The third option includes a full national lockdown, with all prohibited and non-essential stores and hospitality venues closed.

Read more

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Dominic Raab said Christmas would be “better than last year” but declined to comment on whether he was among ministers who questioned the Sage Scholars model.

When asked by Sky News if he could guarantee there would be no more restrictions between now and Christmas Day, Mr Raab said: “Well, I can’t make guarantees hard and fast.”

It comes as confirmed cases of the new highly transmissible strain rose by more than 12,000 in the UK – with cases in London alone exceeding 10,000 on Sunday.

Live updatesView the latest updates 1640006501 South London clinic “closes after no punches”

A vaccine clinic in south London has reportedly been forced to close after orders for vaccines were not delivered.

Dr. Rosemary Leonard, a GP in Lambeth, said residents were heartbroken after they were unable to receive vaccinations after the clinic closed.

Dr Leonard told BBC Breakfast: “I canceled the Vaccine Clinic today because in Lambeth here we didn’t get the vaccines in the late afternoon on a Friday, which is very frustrating and a lot of patients were really upset because they booked appointments. They couldn’t get their vaccines. As planned.”

It was not clear which clinic or stab wounds were affected. There are 19 open and pop-up vaccination clinics in the area and several surgeries across town also provide vaccinations to their patients.

The NHS said people in the capital should not worry, as there are adequate doses for all eligible people.

Will Hoxter, director of the NHS Covid Vaccination Program in London said: “We are seeing record numbers of Covid vaccines across the capital and our focus is on ensuring that these vaccines reach people as quickly as possible so they can get the vital protection they need. against it. The virus.”

More than 650,000 doses of vaccine were delivered in London last week, a record for the London Immunization Programme.

Downing Street insists employees were working as ‘wine and cheese’

Downing Street insisted that no 10 employees photographed in the park last May eating and drinking were discussing work.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson told reporters: “These were individuals in Downing Street – officials and staff – who met after the last press conference that day, so they met outside of hours.

“There were meetings held inside and outside of No. 10.

“It shows colleagues who were required to be at work, meeting after a press conference to discuss work.”

At the time, people were only allowed to meet another adult from another home socially, and only outdoors.

Asked why the Prime Minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, was present, the spokesperson said: “Downing Street is also the private residence of both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor.

“The prime minister’s wife uses her garden. It’s actually her garden.”

164003169 West End shoppers drop days before Christmas

London’s West End saw shopper numbers drop 17% from pre-pandemic levels over the weekend as people choose to stay home before Christmas.

“With less than five days left until Christmas Day, and with the prospect of a circuit breaker closing on the horizon, the retail and entertainment sector is now facing a tremendous amount of financial uncertainty just as it should enjoy a much-needed shot at the Executive Director of the New West End Company for the Palestinian News Agency “The Arm”.

Meanwhile, Kate Nichols, chief executive of industry group UKH Hospitality, told the Telegraph that as many as 10,000 sites could close without imminent support.

“Trading has already been hit hard by the continued flow of pessimistic news following the discovery of the Omicron variant, at a time when hospitality typically expects to generate a quarter of its annual profit,” it added in a statement.

The operator of the Real Greek and Franco Manca restaurant chains has already called for a government support package within 24 hours, regardless of whether new restrictions have been announced.

1640002652 Starer says ‘serious questions’ should be asked over Downing St . photo

Keir Starmer said “serious questions” needed to be answered about the leaked image of Downing Street employees eating cheese and drinking wine in Park No. 10 last year.

The Labor leader told Sky News: “Everyone had seen that photo and to suggest that this was a business meeting was sort of over-analyzed for anyone.

“I think there are very serious questions to be answered, but just look at the picture and ask yourself is the business meeting going or is it a social event? I think the answer is very clear.”

Asked if Labor held similar rallies last year, he added: “I look forward to the day I meet in the back garden of Downing Street, but no – Labor and the vast majority of the public are sticking to the rules.”

1640001875 Horror “Taking the Public for Fools” on Downing Street Picture

Labor said Dominic Raab called the public “idiots” after the deputy prime minister defended an event in Downing Street last year.

Responding to Mr Raab’s comments about a leaked photo of the event, Labor shadow justice minister Steve Reed said: “Dominic Raab has spent hours this month taking the public as idiots rather than dealing with the massive problems that Tories have created in the justice system.

“Rap and this Conservative government that taxes high, and facilitates crime, should address the backlog of courts and raise the pathologically low conviction rate for rape in this country.

“It’s another slap in the face for the British public, who will rightly believe that this is one rule for Boris Johnson and this government, and another rule for everyone else.”

The study found that a recent dose of the vaccine boosts neutralizing antibodies against Omicron

The company announced that a dose of the Moderna vaccine used in the UK’s booster program increases neutralization of antibodies against Omicron by about 37-fold.

Moderna said its initial data looking at Omicron was “reassuring,” although it will continue to develop a custom strike for the variant.

The data showed that 50 mcg of Moderna vaccine (half the dose recommended by the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization for the UK Booster Program) increased neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron approximately 37-fold compared to pre-booster levels, while the full dose increased it 83-fold.

1639999732 Starmer says Labor will support more Covid measures

Sir Keir Starmer said Labor was ready to support further public health measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant if needed.

Speaking in the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, the Labor leader said there was a “leadership vacuum” from the prime minister.

“It is up to the Prime Minister to come up with a plan to support schools, businesses etc, so the ball is in his court. This obsession with party management rather than public health is a wrong priority.

“What I want to see is a government, a prime minister, tightening his grip, laying out a plan ahead that we can all get behind. But where is he? There is a leadership vacuum at the moment.”

The infighting in the Conservative Party is when the focus should really be on the public interest and public health. At the moment, I am frustrated that the Prime Minister is completely absent.”

1639998949 Israel announces a travel ban from the United States and Canada

Israel is set to ban travel to the United States, Canada and eight other countries amid the global spread of the Omicron variant.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office announced the decision after the cabinet voted to approve the move.

The United States will join a growing list of European countries and other destinations to which Israelis are barred from traveling, and from which returning travelers must remain in quarantine. A ban on travel to the UK was imposed at midnight on Thursday.

More of my colleague Matt Watts here.

Tennis star Nadal tests positive for Covid

Rafael Nadal has been confirmed to have COVID-19.

The tennis star said he received a positive test upon arriving in Spain on Monday after a show event in Abu Dhabi.

“I’m experiencing some unpleasant moments, but I hope to improve little by little,” Nadal said in a statement.

“I am now home and have reported the result to those who have been in contact with me.”

1639997504 Lord Frost says he resigned due to ‘forced Covid rules’

The chief Brexit negotiator, Lord Frost, has insisted he resign from the Cabinet due to the Prime Minister’s “forced” Covid restrictions rather than ideological differences over Brexit.

Lord Frost, who had led negotiations with the European Union, resigned from the government immediately over the weekend after his initial plan to resign in January – in agreement with the prime minister – became public.

Speaking for the first time since his departure, Lord Frost expressed his “great admiration” for what Boris Johnson had done as a leader to secure the UK’s exit from the European Union.

He told Sky News: “We have never in any way disagreed on the Brexit policy.

“Up until the last day we were in complete agreement on that, and I’m sure Liz Truss and Chris Heaton-Harris would do a great job.

“I left the government because, I think is well known, I could not support certain policies – most recently on Covid restrictions and Plan B.

“And if you’re a minister, you have to support collective responsibility, you have to support government decisions, and I can’t, and that’s why I had to leave.”

.

[ad_2]