Today’s business minister declared it would be sensible for Christmas parties in Britain to be restricted to four or five people or to be eliminated entirely. This is because Britain’s restaurants, pubs and clubs feel that the confusing government advice will cause them great harm.
George Freeman, the Under Secretary for State for Science, revealed that the department’s party was being cancelled and changed to Zoom.
Mr Freeman is the fifth minister to give different advice about Christmas parties with half of businesses cancelling this year costing UK hospitality ‘billions’.
Boris Johnson insisted on the fact that it is unnecessary to cancel this holiday and that people should just live as they are because he feels this Christmas will be better than previous ones.
Yesterday, Sajid Javid caused anger among hospitality managers when he encouraged partygoers to undergo a Covid screening. They could even consider wearing masks, according to the Health Secretary. Yet one of his health ministers, Gillian Keegan, urged: ‘Continue with your Christmas plans, continue with your nativity plays and your Christmas parties’
Last night Therese Coffey sent more mixed messages on socialising after she warned that people should Avoid snogging beneath the mistletoe during the holiday season.
There was even more chaos when Dr Jenny Harries, chief of UK Health Security Agency(UKHSA), suggested that December should be a time for people to limit their socializing. Tory MPs suspect that this was a plot to make her the fall guy for ministers afraid of imposing further restrictions.
Plunging party plans into further chaos this morning George Freeman said lCompanies that are greedy might cancel their Christmas party.
According to him, it all depends on what business you are running. A small business with four or five people, most of whom are already working in the same place every day, is likely to not be at risk. Gathering for a drink together doesn’t pose a major threat. Some companies may bring in hundreds of people from all over the globe to host a large party. But this year they might question whether that is sensible considering the current pandemic. I think that business people are able to make such decisions.
He continued, “I’ve not been kissed beneath the mistletoe in years.” My parliamentary team usually throws a Christmas party. This year, we decided that Zoom would be a better option than waiting for spring. The party won’t be great.
Although Mr Freeman claims that the Government provides clear guidelines, it appears there is a 50-50 split of live and virtual Christmas parties. Some people will be patient and wait for next year.
Richard Corrigan, Chef/patron of Corrigan’s Mayfair, said: ‘This was the Christmas that was supposed to save us. This is clearly not the case. There have been enough cancellations by corporate entities. The cancellations are also displayed on the bookings. It isn’t business as usual. It will become a complete crisis for hospitality in April.
Russell Norman from Bruto said to the Telegraph, “If there is one thing that I have noticed about our customers it’s absolute confusion. As they go between the tables and the bars, people don’t know whether they need to wear masks. People want a clear, positive message. People are anxious and need guidance.
The Christmas party row and new covid regulations that were enshrined into law through March led to:
- Ministers purchased 114 million more coronavirus doses Vaccines can be modified to guard against new varieties with the fourth and fifth boosters scheduled until 2023.
- No 10 claims its staff followed the guidelines despite reports of a christmas party that violated social distancing regulations being held at the venue last December.
- Many businesses allow their employees to work at home, and they can bring back temperature and mask-wearing equipment from the office.
- Shamed Matt Hancock apologises again in first TV interview since losing his job and wife over office affair and declares: ‘I’ve blown up every part of my life’;
Boris Johnson and Ministers gave different opinions on the question of whether to have a Christmas party
Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson switched on Christmas lights at 10 Downing Street in London.
Chief executive of UK Hospitality trade group Kate Nicholls stated that ministers’ remarks would have serious financial consequences for their companies.
Ms. Nicholls explained that there was a “return to uncertainty” once more. The weekend’s messaging clearly had a chilling impact on consumer confidence. We are beginning to notice a few cancellations.
“It is a trickle at present…but we need that message reinforced stronger to put an end of the uncertainty and threat of a slow-start economy again during the Christmas season.”
She said, “I believe there is also a feeling of trepidation about their plans being disrupted again. So that regardless of whether government controls are imposed on economy, that is having undoubtedly a cooling effect on hospitality.
We already noticed that this year’s bookings have been lower than they were in the pre-pandemic period. This will have an even greater impact on our business.
Mike Cherry is the National Chairman of Federation of Small Businesses. He called on government to provide more clarity.
He said, “As the festive season begins in earnest, clarity, consistency, and proactive promotion of oficial advice are more crucial than ever.”
“If this advice says to keep going with the plans with safety measures, such as ventilation, screen, ventilation, masks, testing, hand sanitizer, screens and screens in place, small companies have been investing over the last 18 months in those, then it needs to be stated clearly.
The executive chairman of an important ad agency stated that there have been cancellations of Christmas parties following the Omicron version’s emergence.
S4Capital founder Sir Martin Sorrell stated that there’s ‘extreme uncertainty’.
When asked if they would cancel office parties, he replied to BBC Radio Four Today: “It doesn’t really matter what we do but what we see clients doing.”
“The short answer is that they’re cancelling. There has been quite a series of cancellations ever since the last time this occurred, which was three, four or five days ago.
“So, there is uncertainty and extreme Government policy. I understandably feel a little sympathy for the Government. This is an extraordinarily difficult situation.
“We’ve seen this happen before, with Delta and other variations. You would think that the Government would be better prepared to deal with any eventuality in scenario planning.
After a minister said last night that Christmas should be socialized, the government was accused of sending mixed messages about it. Avoid snogging beneath the mistletoe during the holiday.
This comes just hours after Boris Johnson contradicted Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer, yesterday by saying Christmas parties can go ahead. Hours after Jenny Harries had stated that Britons shouldn’t socialize due to concerns about the Omicron cornavirus variant that emerged, she said that Johnson was saying this after Johnson.
Threety-two cases (of the highly-mutated strain) have been identified in the UK. This was after the strain was initially discovered in Africa.
Sajid Javid, a partygoer who was urged to complete a Covid exam by his bosses, caused quite a stir among the hospitality industry. They could even consider wearing face masks, according to the Health Secretary.
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey then went further, and told ITV’s Peston programme that ‘we should all be trying to enjoy the Christmas ahead of us’, adding: ‘For what it’s worth, I don’t think there should be much snogging under the mistletoe.’
“(You) do not have to do such things. We should be able to all enjoy Christmas, and this is why I’m working to make sure that as many vaccines are available as possible. Ms. Coffey advised against kissing people she doesn’t know.
It was discovered that Omicron is threatening office Christmas parties. It has been suggested that some employees work from home due to concerns about the strain. DesignMyNight Events Company has stated that cancelations of Christmas parties rose by 15% following the Prime Minister’s initial press conference, which took place on Saturday. There was more to come after Tuesday’s speech.
Restaurants and hotels across the country have been able to reveal that their lost bookings had caused them to lose thousands of pounds.
Ministers were accused of inducing companies to send staff home during December, and to cancel Christmas parties due to the Omicron strain Covid-19. SAGE scientists demanded that all UK visitors be placed into quarantine for five consecutive days to allow them to undergo a predeparture PCR test.
Boris Johnson stated in March that shops must have face covers to prevent the spread of this virus. However, he also promised to give vaccines and jabs to over 40 million people by January 31, to stop it spreading.
The Prime Minister also spoke at the Downing Street press conference Tuesday night, insisting that another lockdown is unlikely.
Critics claim that the latest Government coronavirus regulations on masks and blanket quarantine Omicron contact information, as well as gloomy language regarding the threat from the new variant are actually encouraging semi-lockdowns by stealth, despite only 22 new cases.
Officials from the World Health Organization claimed that Omicron cases in most cases are mild and no evidence has been found to show that this new variant affects vaccine effectiveness for serious illnesses.
Sajid javid encouraged people, amid mixed messages being made against him, to be more’sensible’ than others and to attend Christmas parties. Before trying to slow down the Omicron spread, he also recommended that millions take a lateral flow exam. According to the Health Secretary, there is no guarantee that Christmas will be free from lockdowns.
Google has written to UK staff asking them to “move any planned social gatherings up to 2022” and to limit the number to just 15 people. Ronan Harris, Vice President and MD for Google UK & Ireland, also told workers that face-to-face business meetings and events must be approved by a company director.
Even though the Government has advised against it, UK companies are scrambling to reinstate restrictions in offices such as mask wearing in public areas like corridors and lifts. Aviva Insurance is offering daily lateral flow exams to its employees. EY is just one of many large businesses that ask staff to cover their faces when they are not working.
Sir Christopher Chope is a Tory MP who claimed that Prime Minister’s regulations were ‘particular of a scaremongering propagandist campaign that is actually designed to restrict and stop interaction among social animals. These regulations are designed to restrict freedom and social contact and use unreasonable fear-mongering.
Alec Shelbrooke is Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell. He said that he received numerous emails from potential travel agencies in his constituency, whose bookings had fallen off a cliff due to the high cost of PCR testing’. Businesses who rely on employees at work will feel worse if they get encouragement to work from home.
Anybody who comes in contact with Omicron cases must self-isolate within ten days.
According to some, bosses were worried about the possibility of multiple employees being quarantined by an outbreak.
Hospitality chiefs and Tory MPs believe the mixed messages – Boris Johnson has said people should ‘keep living your life’ – was having a ‘chilling effect on consumer confidence’.
Steve Baker, who spoke out in opposition to new coronavirus controls in the Commons, stated that the public required ‘clarity’ and not “Christmas killjoys”.
According to the Tory ex-minister, “People are tired and sick of this level micromanagement of our lives.” They want to be free and joyful, and they want to be free and joyful at Christmas – without the Christmas killjoys.’
Officials from the World Health Organisation suggested that Omicron sufferers have so far had few symptoms, or only mild ones.
No one of the 32 cases confirmed in the UK was admitted to hospital. Ministers have already introduced face masks on buses and in shops, and tightened self isolation rules. The rollout of boosters is to also be accelerated.
As a children’s chorus sings, Mr Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street during Wednesday’s ceremony to turn on the Downing Street Christmas tree lights.
After festive events being cancelled due to the Omicron variant, ministers Therese and Sajid Javid were warned not to become ‘Christmas killjoys’ Wednesday night.
Boris Johnson listens as a children’s choir performs during the switch-on ceremony of the Downing Street Christmas tree lights.
Jenny Harries (public health chief) urged against unnecessary socializing during the Christmas season. This prompted a row. She was later discredited by the Prime Minister, who advised against unnecessary socializing in the lead-up to Christmas.
Last night, however, it was reported that Christmas party cancellations were caused by staff from magazines and NHS trusts. Many employers tell their employees to go home and work from home, or to implement Covid security precautions in the office.
Kate Nicholls of UK Hospitality said that the messaging from the weekend affected consumer confidence. She also noted that there are now a few cancellations.
Mike Cherry from the Federation of Small Businesses stated: “As this season begins in earnest, clarity, consistency, proactive promotion of oficial advice is more crucial than ever.
According to Professor Andrew Hayward from the Sage advisory team, people need to avoid Christmas parties and at minimum wear masks.
Picture of the Prime Minister applauding as he switched on the Christmas lights in Downing Street tonight
After turning on the Downing Street Christmas tree lights for this evening, Prime Minister Standing in Front of Crowd
After switching on the Christmas tree lights at Downing Street, Mr Johnson can be seen next to children’s chorus and band.
After turning the lights on on Wednesday, Mr Johnson cheers and gazes up at Downing Street’s Christmas tree.
Revealed: An Israeli triple-vaccinated doctor claims he was exposed to Omicron Covid variant while in London for a conference that 1250 attendees attended on 23 November. It is the same strain discovered in Africa.
Martin Robinson Chief Reporter, MailOnline.
After claiming that he was infected by the Omicron strain during a London conference attended by 1,250 people, a triple-vaccinated Israeli physician has raised concerns about the possibility of the Omicron variant being in Britain for several weeks.
Elad Marra, 45, traveled to Jerusalem on November 19. She stayed in Islington as she attended three days of ExCeL London’s convention.
A father-of-3, Sheba Medical Centre near Tel Aviv, found out that he had the virus after a four-day wait. The symptoms included a mild sore throat, fever, and muscle ache.
On November 20, 21, and 24, he took three PCR test results, all of which were negative. He later developed symptoms after returning to Israel and taking a fourth PCR test, which returned a positive result.
Dr Maor, who is now quarantining at home in Israel, appears to be certain that he picked up the variant while attending the conference, saying: ‘I got the Omicron in London, for sure.’
Elad (pictured above), 45 years old, traveled from Israel to London on Nov 19, and stayed in an Islington hotel while she attended the three-day ExCeL London Convention in Newham.
He told The Guardian: ‘That is interesting because that was 10 days ago in London – really, really early.’
Dr Maor is also convinced that he may have infected his 69-year old colleague worker. He has now tested positive for Omicron varietal after returning from London.
Pointing to a delay between the time of infection and when the PCR turns positive, he added: ‘The only reasonable explanation is that I got infected on the last day of the meeting – maybe at the airport, maybe at the meeting.’
Associate professor of Cardiology from Tel Aviv University stated that he commuted via the Tube and Docklands Light Railways (DLR) during the three-day conference.
His comments come as Dr. Anthony Fauci announces the first detected case of the Omicron variant in the US, saying it was identified by the San Francisco Departments of Public Health in California.
Fauci stated that the person had been returned to South Africa from November 22, and was positive for HIV a week later, on November 29.
Although he or she had been fully vaccinated and received an additional booster, he/she is experiencing only mild symptoms.
Boris Johnson spoke in the UK while Boris Johnson added that rules were enshrined into law in England until March. Face coverings should be worn at all times in shops or public transportation to “buy us time in front of this new variant”.
To combat its spread, the Prime Minister pledged that he would ‘throw all’ at booster vaccination campaigns and give jabs for 40million people over 18 by 31 January.
But in the same Downing Street press conference last night Mr Johnson insisted another lockdown is ‘extremely unlikely’, urging people not to cancel their plans and to ‘keep living your life’.
Critics say the Government’s latest coronavirus rules on masks, blanket quarantine for Omicron contacts and gloomy language about the threat of the new variant is actually encouraging a semi-lockdown by stealth despite just 22 cases of the new strain detected so far.
On Tuesday, there were no deaths or infections in the UK. A World Health Organization official stated on Wednesday that Omicron cases are mostly’mild’. There is no evidence to suggest the new Omicron variant will have any effect on the effectiveness of vaccines against severe illness.
Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Johnson clashed at PMQs over Covid rules. This lunchtime, the PM was confronted by a revolt of Tory MPs
While the Government insists that the rules will still be reviewed within three weeks, Tory MPs including Mark Harper (ex-chief whip) have raised concerns over the date.