Big businesses have told staff they can avoid the office through December because of the Omicron strain of Covid-19 as the Government was accused of scaring people into working from home and SAGE scientists called for all UK arrivals to be forced to quarantine for five days and take a pre-departure PCR test even if they are fully vaccinated.
The decision to cancel Christmas parties is also taking place. This has cost pubs and clubs billions. Even if parties continue, their bosses have told them that they will require a lateral flow test and must wear masks. Santa visits were canceled by schools and councils, while schools cancelled their nativity plays.
With almost four weeks until Christmas, staff are already being allowed to work from home full time despite Boris Johnson’s insistence there was no need to call off events or for companies to send staff home to avoid a Christmas lockdown.
Critics believe that the government’s new coronavirus rules regarding masks, blanket quarantine Omicron contacts and dark language about the threat of a new variant of coronavirus are encouraging a semilockdown by stealth, even though there have been only 22 cases. Yesterday saw a decline in deaths, hospitalisations and infections.
Johnson said that people must cover their faces in public places and shops starting yesterday, but they are not allowed in restaurants. He also stated that companies do not need to send employees home for Christmas.
Yesterday was chaotic after Dr Jenny Harries, chief of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said that people need to limit their socializing in order to stop the spread. Tory MPs suspect that Jenny Harries is being made the fall guy by Ministers, who don’t want to acknowledge further restrictions.
MailOnline is able to reveal that Brewin Dolphin today told its staff in London that they are allowed to avoid the office between December 10 and January 7. Staff should not ‘feel uncomfortable declining’ invites to events before December 25, bosses also said.
Google sent an email to UK workers urging them not to host any in-person events and to limit the number to just 15 people. Ronan Harris, Vice President and MD for Google UK & Ireland also told workers that business meetings and events must be approved by a company director.
Many UK businesses employing thousands of people have reintroduced office restrictions, including the ban on mask-wearing in public areas like corridors or lifts, despite guidance from Government.
Pubs and clubs have reported a slew of cancellations as hospitality businesses lined up to warn the Prime Minister that the chilling effect of Covid restrictions will cost the economy ‘billions’ in the run-up to Christmas. This year, many big companies aren’t hosting large parties. For all those who are, they will require a negative result on the covid test.
And there was even more confusion today after Health Secretary Sajid Javid encouraged millions of people to be ‘sensible’ and ‘cautious’ and take a lateral flow test before going to Christmas events to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
Sir Christopher Chope is a Tory MP and claimed that Prime Minister’s regulations are “part of a scaremongering propagandist campaign that’s really designed to restrict interaction between social animal.” These regulations are designed to restrict freedom and social contact and use unreasonable fear-mongering.
Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative MP for Elmet and Rothwell, said: ‘I have received several emails from travel companies in my constituency whose potential bookings have dropped off a cliff because of the cost of PCR tests’, adding encouragement back towards working from home will be devastating for businesses relying on office workers.
The new covid regulations were enshrined into law in March.
- Joe Biden is considering tougher entry requirements for travellers going to the US in a move which could include forcing arrivals to quarantine for seven days.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it is time for the EU ‘to think about’ making Covid vaccines mandatory across the entire bloc.
- According to Mr Javid, it is a huge task to fulfil the Government’s promise of a boost drive to offer a jab at every UK adult before January 31st.
- Labour demanded that the UK Government introduce pre-departure testing before all citizens fly to the UK.
- Saffron Corery, the deputy chief executives of NHS Providers which represents NHS trusts said some NHS organisations asked their staff to ‘not mix in big groups’ during Christmas.
- Data published by the Office for National Statistics showed a total of 170,816 deaths have occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
Boris Johnson was accused of sending mixed messages to employees working from home by businesses, up until 2022.
SAGE advised that all UK-bound arrivals be placed in quarantine for five consecutive days, and subject to a predeparture PCR test.
According to the expert panel, the existing travel bans are allowing infected individuals to slip through.
Currently, all fully vaccinated individuals entering the UK have to undergo a PCR testing within the first 2 days upon their return.
They can do this immediately upon landing and get a result the next day. This will release them from their isolation within hours.
SAGE scientists warned that such a short time frame might not be enough for the virus’s incubation. The scientists also asked ministers for day five- and eight-day tests.
Before flying back to Britain, unvaccinated passengers entering the UK will need to pass “fit to fly” tests.
SAGE’s latest advice was leaked in minutes from an emergency meeting on Monday about Omicron.
On November 29th, more than 30 scientists participated in the videoconference. It was led by Sir Patrick Vallance (chief scientific advisor) and Professor Chris Whitty (chief medical adviser).
The experts also suggested that Britain must be prepared for an ‘potentially extremely significant wave with associated hospitalsisations’ in the winter, if Omicron is true.
Boris Johnson tightened travel guidelines yesterday so that arrivals must self-isolate till they obtain a negative PCR result.
Shadow home secretary Yvette cooper today stated that it was a ‘totally unacceptable” for ministers not to heed the advice of their scientists to impose additional curbs on the border.
It was rejected this week by the Government, which argued it would have a detrimental impact on travel and tourism.
Boris Johnson has been warned by businesses that Covid restrictions could chill the economy and cause a flurry of panic in the lead-up to Christmas.
Restaurants and pubs reported that people had already cancelled Christmas parties, even though it is not required to wear masks at hospitality venues. Theaters are now asking for masks.
The industry is in danger of a stringent new testing requirement following the recent strain’s emergence, according to airline bosses. There are increasing fears that airlines could experience a surge in cancellations as bookings have declined.
Michael Kill (chief executive at the Night Time Industries Association) stated that the confusion caused by mixed messages is damaging to business.
He stated that it was surreal to hear healthcare professionals telling people to not socialize, which causes unnecessary uncertainty for our customers, employees, and the public.
He stated that while operating costs have reached their highest point, they are facing a poor-conceived communication strategy from Government, which will impact severely businesses.
“Christmas bookings have been made and tickets sold in advance of Christmas already after the Omicron variant was announced,” said Steve Baker, former minister. Steve Baker, a former minister, condemned Dr Harries’ intervention. He said: “Loneliness reduces life expectancy… yet we find an official suggesting that there should be no unnecessary socializing.” Sir Desmond Swayne, a Tory politician and fellow Tory said that telling people to stop socializing would lead to a huge loss in people’s well-being as well as industries still recovering from previous lockdowns.
Following the announcement that new rules regarding self-isolation would be made in law by March, Tory MPs attacked the government. There are fears that these curbs may remain in place beyond the promised three week review.
A new restriction came into force yesterday which requires people who have been in contact with a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant to self-isolate for 10 days or risk a fine of up to £10,000.
Boris Johnson said this rule along with the requirement to wear facemasks in shops, on public transport, and that returning travelers must take a PCR test within two days of arrival will all be reviewed prior to Christmas.
However, the self-isolation rules regulations aren’t due to expire before March 24th. This has prompted a backlash by anti-lockdown Tories.
Conservative MPs are concerned that the new rule will lead to a new ‘pingdemic’, which could destroy the economy as well as the education system.
Today, Health Secretary Sajid Javid dismissed these concerns. He said that the number of Omicron cases in the UK is currently’very low’ at 22 cases.
Johnson refused to follow Dr Jenny Harries’ advice, noting that it was not in official guidance. He also said people don’t need to cancel school nativity plays or Christmas parties.
Today, the PM was echoed by Mr Javid who said that people “should continue to behave as they had planned for Christmas” and that he didn’t believe there’s any reason to modify those plans.
The Health Secretary was able to create more confusion when he stated that he will take a Covid exam before going to a Christmas party.
According to him, testing in front of a party is not a recommendation for the guidance. However, he said he would test his attendance at such an event to be a “sensible precaution”.
The incident occurred as Sir Keir Sternmer grilled Johnson at PMQs about claims Johnson and Downing Street staff violated Covid rules in holding two celebratory gatherings in Number 10 for 2020.
The Daily Mirror reported that the PM gave a speech at a packed leaving do for a senior aide last November when the country was in the midst of the second lockdown. While London was under Tier 3 Covid restrictions, his number 10 team members held their own Christmas party.
While Johnson admitted that the party took place, Johnson said that “all guidelines were followed fully” as Sir Keir had accused the PM. The British Public is being taken for a fool.
Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Johnson clashed at PMQs over Covid rules. This lunchtime, the PM faced revolt by Tory MPs
Although the government has stated that the rules would be reviewed in 3 weeks’ time, Tory MPs such as Mark Harper, former chief whip, expressed concern about their expiry date.
MPs voted yesterday to overwhelmingly support Mr Johnson’s new rule on self-isolation by 431 votes to 36, as 32 Tories rebelled to vote against.
The Tory backbenchers worry that, while the Government says the restrictions will need to be reviewed in the next three weeks ministers might subsequently take action to maintain them.
However, the December 20 deadline for compulsory face masks is over. The law governing self-isolation however will continue to be in effect until March 24.
Yesterday, Mark Harper, former chief whip raised the issue of expiry dates with Maggie Throup (Vaccine Minister Maggie Throup).
He said: ‘The Government have said that they are going to review these measures after three weeks and she is right—on the face masks, the regulations expire on 20 December—but the self-isolation SI (statutory instrument) has no expiry date, which means it will run all the way until the main statutory instrument expires on 24 March 2022. Why?
Ms. Throup stated that Mr Harper made a very good point’ but insists that ‘we won’t continue to have regulations in place any longer than necessary’.
Harper stated that while ministers made it clear that they would review the regulations in three weeks…the regulations were not time-limited; instead, they amended another set that does not expire until March next year.
‘Although minister tells us they won’t be enforced for one day more than is necessary, she must acknowledge that given the recent events and the way ministers dealt with the standards measures, there was a decrease in trust between backbenchers.
Politico was told by sources in government that March is due to a technical problem with legislation. They also stressed the importance of the three-week review.
Tory MPs are worried about the new self-isolation rule. This has raised fears of a return to the “pingdemic” that decimated the country in the first half of this year. Thousands were advised to remain at home.
Tory MP Steve Brine said: ‘We are not just looking at a pingdemic in our economy and in our businesses; we are looking at a pingdemic that will devastate education again.
‘After everything that we have learned—everything that I have felt in my own family—are we really, seriously, going to do that to our children again?’
Fellow Tory MP Craig Mackinlay said: ‘I am afraid that the proposals mean we are going to fall into a new pingdemic.’
Today, Mr. Javid said that he was not concerned about the possibility of a ‘pingdemic’ as Omicron cases are still very low.
He told Sky News: ‘No, no I am not. The case numbers at this time are extremely low. At the moment, there are 22 cases that have been confirmed across the UK.
“Now that it is going up, it will definitely go up but it’s low numbers, so I am hoping it stays this way.
“So, although I’m not concerned about a possible pingdemic, but even though we know about Plan A, we always said that once you enter deeper winter, it is colder and darker, the virus will like this, not just the flu virus.
“So we do this then people should try to think how can they ventilate the room. And just follow our current guidance.
After Dr Harries suggested that social contact might be reduced ‘a bit’ to slow the spread, it prompted a Tory backlash from Tory MPs and warned the hospitality industry.
She stated that “if we all reduce our social contacts, in fact that helps to keep this variant at bay”.
Downing Street rejected the advice and stressed that socialising should not be reduced as part of Omicron’s government response.
Later, Johnson echoed the sentiments at Number 10’s press conference. He said that Christmas parties must still be held.
Sky News asked Mr Javid for his thoughts on this issue. He stated that he believed people should behave the same way they planned to over Christmas.
“I do not believe there’s any reason to alter those plans. Only the most important changes have been made over the past few days.
It could affect your plans for international travel.
“There are times when you need to be alone if someone has Omicron.
Also, the Health Secretary was asked whether people should undergo a coronavirus testing before going to Christmas parties.
He replied: ‘It would. I would. This isn’t an official recommendation but I would if it was a big party that featured lots of fun and many things.
“But, I would have done it by the way before we learned about this variant.
“Again, I would do that because it’s getting colder and darker. We are more likely to spend more time indoors because of this colder, darker day. So, the precaution is something everyone should take.
According to Mr Javid, people need to be “sensible” if they are going to a Christmas party.
He said: ‘If you are invited to a Christmas party, there’s quite a few people there, maybe you want to take an LFT (lateral flow test) test before you go. You should go to the party but be careful.
When asked if he would wear masks at parties, Mr. Javid replied that it depended on whether he is sitting or walking. It all depends on what I am eating. The guidance is all that’s needed to help people make decisions.
Cabinet Minister defended Government’s decision not to enforce face-coverings in England on public transport or in shops, but in hospitality.
The government’s role is to receive expert opinion and to make an informed and balanced decision. This is exactly what we did,’ he stated.
“We have taken swift action. However, I believe that what we said about face covers and other measures we took is balanced and appropriate.
The government has stated that the Omicron variant will be analysed by scientists and if any vaccines can be developed against it, and the new regulations regarding self-isolation as well face masks, travel testing and travel testing were in effect at 4am yesterday.