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Boris Johnson not planning new COVID restrictions before Christmas
The prime minister has said he does not intend to reintroduce coronavirus restrictions before Christmas.
Speaking after a five-hour cabinet meeting to discuss the latest Omicron data, Boris Johnson said the government would not hesitate to take further action if necessary, adding that he was monitoring the data “hour by hour”.
He said: “Unfortunately I must say to people that we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public, to protect public health, to protect our NHS.”
The PM has not ruled out tightening restrictions after Christmas Day, with multiple sources reporting that measures are likely between Christmas and New Year.
At the weekend, Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) advice indicating that hospital admissions could hit 3,000 per day and risk overwhelming the NHS was published.
In the Sage minutes, experts warned delaying action until January would dampen the impact on hospitalisations and deaths,
The UK recorded its highest ever number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday at 93,045, and experts say the true figure is likely to be far higher.
Some 91,743 infections were confirmed on Monday.
At the weekend, Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) advice indicating that hospital admissions could hit 3,000 per day and risk overwhelming the NHS was published.
In the Sage minutes, experts warned delaying action until January would dampen the impact on hospitalisations and deaths,
Gloomy modelling by scientists has triggered resistance from some cabinet ministers, with chancellor Rishi Sunak reported to be reluctant to announce more financial support due to being unsure about the modelling’s accuracy.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss and business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng are also said to be among ministers expressing concern.
A spokesperson for the prime minister refused to deny tensions on Monday, insisting it is “one of the roles of ministers to scrutinise any advice and evidence provided and consider it” and “strike the right balance between protecting lives and livelihoods”.
Read more: Omicron symptoms: South African doctor on three most common signs of new variant
Current COVID restrictions include work from home guidance, vaccine certification or negative lateral flows for entering large venues or events, and mandatory face coverings in certain settings.
The government has also rapidly accelerated the booster programme, hitting nearly 1m doses in one day over the weekend.
However, at the weekend it emerged that Johnson is considering three new options to slow the spread of the virus in response to the deteriorating situation.
Option one would see families asked to limit indoor contacts without legal enforcement, which would not require the prime minister to recall parliament to pass the new legislation.
Option two would mandate curbs on household mixing, see the return of social distancing, and the implementation of the controversial curfews on pubs and restaurants.
Option three, the most extreme option, would plunge the nation back into a full lockdown.The last two options would require the prime minister to recall parliament to enable MPs to debate the new measures and vote on them.
However, Johnson’s ability to convince his party to pass the restrictions is in question, after he was forced to rely on Labour MPs to pass COVID measures last week following a huge rebellion by 100 of his own MPs. Last week Independent SAGE, a group of non-government experts, called for a circuit breaker lockdown to curb rising case numbers in the run up to Christmas.
“Omicron is doubling so fast that sheer numbers will v likely outweigh any advantage of reduced severity (if it exists),” said Professor Christina Pagel from Independent SAGE on Twitter.
“To prevent NHS being overwhelmed in a few weeks & for a safer Xmas we need to act now. Not next week, not after Xmas, now.
“We are calling for an immediate *10 day* circuit break to protect NHS & enable safer mixing over Xmas (25-28 December).
“Reassess over Xmas to see what is needed then, when much more info available. Situation changing so fast, can’t plan far ahead.”
Watch: COVID-19: Boris Johnson holds firm at news conference but government medics beg public to reconsider their plans
