As leaders of their respective countries try to stop the Omicron variant spreading, anger has continued to flare.
As Boris Johnson weighs whether to place new restrictions on England, Boris Johnson has already imposed limitations on how large gatherings can be, as well as requirements regarding social distancing.
Today, social distancing of one meter will start in all bars, restaurants, pubs, cafes, theaters, cinemas museums, gyms and snooker halls in Scotland.
Wales will allow six people to meet at pubs, cinemas, and restaurants. Indoor events will permit 30 people, while outdoor events will allow 50.
Mark Drakeford, first minister, has said that the social distancing of two metres will be necessary in all public places and offices while nightclubs close.
Northern Ireland will close nightclubs and ban dancing in hotels.
The number of households that can socialize will be limited to just three, while six or more people may meet up in bars, restaurants and pubs. If they come from the same family, then they will allow ten people to meet in the pubs, bars and restaurants.
The latest measures comes as hospitality boss William Lees-Jones, whose company runs a number of pubs in North West England and Wales, ‘barred’ First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and leader of the Welsh Labour Party Mark Drakeford from his venues after they imposed restrictions on nightclubs and pubs.
Tweet by Mr Lees Jones: ‘The @JWLeesBrewery Christmas present to the UK is that we’re banning the following from all our pubs – @NicolaSturgeon #MarkDrakeford @SusanMichie@Peston @neil_ferguson
As leaders in the country attempt to stop Omicron’s spread, tighter coronavirus controls were imposed today in Wales and Northern Ireland. Pictured: Boxing Day Sales at Oxford Street.
Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have imposed limitations on gatherings and social distancing requirements. They also set rules for restaurants, pubs and other leisure venues.
Mr Lees-Jones later told The Manchester Evening News: It’s a serious point. Both Wales and Scotland have settled down too quickly.
‘If you look at the situation in London, it would appear to be more advanced than either Scotland or Wales – and as a business, we’re particularly exposed to Wales. Some businesses will feel the pinch from New Year and booking reshuffles.
Today, Boris Johnson is due to be presented with the latest Covid data as he weighs up whether to impose fresh restrictions on England to stem the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
According to reports, the Prime Minister will be briefed on Monday by Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty (the Chief Medical Officer for England) – both of whom are likely to receive knighthoods for their pandemic work.
Positive figures could persuade Johnson to continue with Plan B’s lighter touch measures, possibly adding more guidance.
The PM might need to intervene if there is unsustainable pressure being placed on the NHS by cases.
Social media users used Twitter to vent their dissatisfaction with the changes in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
One individual wrote, “I am fed up with Drakeford and Sturgeon closing their economies down and expecting the English pay for it.”
One user also commented, “Surprised Drakeford isn’t trying to place restrictions on the weather.”
A second person commented: “You’ve destroyed Christmas for thousands upon thousands of Scots by Covid restrictions.”
Yesterday saw football supporters clash with police officers at McDiarmid stadium in Perth, Scotland. The tensions were boiling over under the strict restrictions imposed by Nicola Sturgeon.
As a result of the tough Covid restrictions, charity Boxing Day dives into the sea in Wales were also cancelled.
Llandudno Lions Club declared: “While this is unfortunate for the club’s fund-raising efforts we have to comply with the advice we are given.”
Carmarthenshire Council stated that the Welsh Government had announced that indoor and outdoor sporting events must take place behind closed doors starting from Boxing Day.
“The Boxing Day Walrus Dip at Cefn sidan beach in Pembrey Country Park was cancelled because of this decision. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled due to new Welsh Government rules.
Boris Johnson will receive the Covid Data as part of his considerations on whether or not to put new restrictions in England.
Twitter users expressed their dismay at the Covid-19 restrictions.
Donald MacLeod MBE of Glasgow’s Cathouse and Garage nightclubs, has criticized the SNP leader for the restriction.
“The damage had already been done three weeks before Public Health Scotland began scaring everyone and saying Omicron would wipe out the human species,” he said to BBC Radio 4’s World at One.
‘I must admit that I prefer the manner in which Boris or Westminster dealt with it. Looking at the evidence first before you panic,
“This will destroy the industry. What’s more, Nicola Sturgeon stated today that she was going off work for the holidays.
“Meanwhile,” he said, “I have 150 people who are going be sickly about their jobs as well as freelancers and suppliers who are in pieces.” This is a shame.
Liz Cameron is the Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce. She stated that Ms. Sturgeon’s new restrictions are a ‘hammer blow’ for both employers and Scotland’s Economy.
Dr Cameron said: “Businesses in Scotland who did everything possible to protect their customers and employees will be disappointed by the new restrictions.
“Some companies and industries will consider this an equivalent of getting a lump of coal in Christmas stockings. This would further aggrave the decline in trade that they suffered in the run-up of the holidays.
Scotland’s hospitality leaders have stated that pubs will no longer be able to trade during festive season. They were responding to official advice from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to reduce social contact.
UKHospitality Cymru, which warned Welsh hospitality companies that they were already “battered and bruised” and are at the end their rope due to a decline in client numbers this week, stated that the new rules would only make things worse.
The changes in Northern Ireland were called unacceptable and impolite by the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, while the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation stated that it would now “try to operate within the new framework”.
Meanwhile Boris Johnson is battling to avoid imposing tough Covid restrictions for the New Year.
Downing Street is understood to be leaning towards new guidance urging people in England to be careful and limit contacts – rather than imposing new legally binding restrictions such as table service in pubs or limits on household mixing.
This could all change, however, if the data regarding hospitalisations indicates that there could be a surge in coronavirus-related infections to overwhelm the NHS.
Johnson was warned by his backbenchers this week to exercise caution before imposing restrictions.
LBC was told by Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brownn, Cotswolds MP, that the latest numbers before Christmas revealed that hospital admissions were relatively stable. This is because of infectivity, which I have not seen before Christmas.
“So, I’m hoping the Prime Minister will take extra precautions before taking further steps.”
The PM may consider closing bars and restaurants, restricting indoor meeting spaces, or bringing back the rule number six, as well as limiting the capacity for mass events.
Baroness Stroud (a Tory peer) was Sir Iain Duncan Smith’s special adviser when Universal Credit was introduced as work and pensions secretary. This warning to the Government warned against tighter restrictions, which could have led people to become ‘into poverty.
The Sunday Telegraph published her opinion: “Many such measures cause health and social damage, and have an enormous, negative impact upon people’s livelihoods. These measures can also lead to poverty.
‘I ask the Government to ensure that as they contemplate further restrictions, they are open about the active choice they would be making to damage the lives of our most vulnerable – who are doing all they can to work their way out of poverty.’
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said that this weekend was the last opportunity for struggling hospitality companies to receive the cash they need to survive the quiet of January/February.
We urge the PM not to change his plans. There is still much we don’t know about Omicron but we do know about the economic and social hit of lockdowns and restrictions – so caution is right.’
This week Campaign for Pubs sent a letter to Rishi Sunak (Chancellor), urging them to refrain from imposing harsh restrictions.
They said: ‘We are on the brink – in many cases literally on the verge of being unable to carry on, of walking away and of going under.
“We cannot continue this way.” Without proper financial support, we cannot cope with the new cycle of lockdown and restrictions.
The Prime Minister was met with significant resistance by some cabinet ministers last week. They said that Omicron’s data didn’t justify any further restrictions.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Mr Sunak criticized further restrictions, but Levelling up Secretary Michael Gove as well Culture Secretary Nadine Dories said that these were essential.
Last week figures showed nearly 1.4million people — the equivalent of one in 50 — had Covid across the UK.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Covid infection survey estimated 1.37million people were carrying the virus on any given day during the week up to December 16 — an all-time record.
It is a record-breaking number but only 24.9 percent more than the week before (1.09 million), in contradiction to Government modeling that Omicron doubled every other day.
The survey — based on random swabs of more than 555,000 people — covers the first full week in which the Omicron variant took off in the UK.
Around 1.2 million people in England were believed to be infected by the virus. This includes 76,000 in Scotland, 54,000 in Wales, and 38,000 in Northern Ireland.
Because it relies on random sampling and not people coming forward for testing, the ONS survey has been deemed to be the best indicator of Britain’s Covid pandemic.
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA), national flu surveillance report and Covid surveillance reports showed that cases increased by more than five percent in the UK during the week ended December 19.
A separate King’s College London study found that symptomatic patients ‘exploded’, with an estimated 144 284 new symptomatic infection per day during the week ending December 20. This is the highest ever recorded and up to 66% more than the previous week.
New Year’s reprieve? Boris Johnson fights against any stricter Covid curbs being imposed on the country’s biggest party night, ahead of the public release of vital hospitalisation data.
By Daniel Martin for the Daily Mail and David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent for MailOnline
Boris Johnson is trying to prevent the imposition of harsh Covid restrictions in the New Year, ahead of today’s crucial meeting with scientists.
To discuss the possibility of Omicron, the Prime Minister will meet with advisors.
Downing Street is understood to be leaning towards new guidance urging people in England to be careful and limit contacts – rather than imposing new legally binding restrictions such as table service in pubs or limits on household mixing.
This could all change, however, if the data regarding hospitalisations indicates that there could be a surge in coronavirus-related infections to overwhelm the NHS.
It came as Mr Johnson received a warning from his own backbenchers to be ‘very cautious’ before applying further restrictions.
LBC spoke with Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown, Cotswolds MP and treasurer of 1922 Committee of backbench Tories: “The most recent figures before Christmas indicated that there was a relatively steady number of patients in the hospital. That is why we have to lock down further. It is necessary to address infectivity in hospitals. I didn’t see it before Christmas.
Boris Johnson (pictured is trying to prevent the imposition of tough Covid restrictions in the New Year, ahead of an urgent meeting with scientists.
A bar at Concert Square in Liverpool’s centre on Boxing Day had empty tables. Downing Street is understood to be leaning towards new guidance urging people in England to be careful and limit contacts – rather than imposing new legally-binding restrictions
Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer of England (right), and Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Advisor, earlier in the year. To discuss legal measures to counter Omicron, the Prime Minister will meet with his advisers.
“So, I’m hoping the Prime Minister will take extra precautions before taking further steps.”
Sir Geoffrey claimed that people took matters into their hands and were very careful themselves. He added, “That is the best response in this situation. Let people make their decisions.”
The PM has considered possible restrictions over the last few days, including closing bars and restaurants indoors.
The beleaguered hospitality sector urged Johnson last night to remain firm despite hopeful signs Omicron may not prove as deadly as it was in the past.
After a disastrous Christmas, pub bosses stated that they are ‘on the edge’.
Johnson has so far resisted the calls for him to take social mixing restrictions as far as Scotland and Wales. Similar restrictions have also been imposed in many European countries – but not yet in England.
The Prime Minister will be meeting Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance chief scientific advisor to discuss the most recent data.
Cabinet would be required to approve any legally binding restrictions, which would then need to get rubber stamped by MPs.
But last night sources said the recall of Parliament was looking less likely than it had before Christmas – an indication that Downing Street is leaning away from stricter curbs. A simple directive urging people not to contact others would suffice without the need for Parliamentary approval or support from the Cabinet.
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said that this weekend was the final opportunity for struggling hospitality companies to obtain the cash they need to survive the quiet of January/February.
We urge the PM not to change his plans. There is still much we don’t know about Omicron but we do know about the economic and social hit of lockdowns and restrictions – so caution is right.’
Campaign for Pubs urged Rishi Sunak (Chancellor) and Johnson to refrain from imposing harsh restrictions last night.
They said: ‘We are on the brink – in many cases literally on the verge of being unable to carry on, of walking away and of going under.
“We cannot continue this way.” Without financial assistance, it is impossible to deal with another cycle of restriction and lockdown.
The Prime Minister was met with significant resistance by some cabinet ministers last week. They said that Omicron’s data didn’t justify any further restrictions.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss spoke against additional curbs. However, Nadine Dorries and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove argued for them.
Tory backbenchers are also putting pressure on Johnson. 100 people voted against Mr Johnson’s plan to issue vaccine passports earlier in the month.
Sir Graham Brady was chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory Backbenchers and stated: “Enough is enough.” This week, there must not be any new restrictions. It doesn’t matter if the PM feels it necessary to call off Parliament in an emergency session or if he simply needs to give new direction.
Alec Shelbrooke, his colleague added that the Prime Minister should stand firm and not impose any new restrictions during this week.
“There are no grounds to disrupt people’s New Year festivities and cause more harm than necessary.”
London is the hardest hit by the new virus, with 1 in 20 Londoners infected. Ten of England’s most severely affected postcodes are located in a 3-mile stretch that runs between Lambeth and Wandsworth (highlighted yellow).
According to reports, ministers monitor hospitalisations in capital. If daily figures exceed 400 they will be subject to a lockdown for two weeks.
Graph shows: The infection rate per 100,000 in the ten worst affected postcodes in the UK compared to the general rate in the rest of England since the start of October
ENGLAND. The ONS Covid-19 Survey estimated that around 1.5million people were infected with Covid during the week up to December 19. This figure was 65% higher than the week before
According to data from the UK Health Security Agency, confirmed Covid cases per 100,000 residents in all areas of the UK