Welshmen and Scots are disappointed by the New Year under Covid curbs. The English, however, celebrate it without restriction.
New rules were enacted yesterday that closed nightclubs in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Social distancing was reinstated and the rule number six was reintroduced to pubs and restaurants.
New Covid curbs on hospitality from devolved governments have scuppered plans for December 31 – but revellers still plan to let their hair down in England after Sajid Javid confirmed no new rules would be brought in before 2022.
England remains the only part of Britain where party-goers will be able to celebrate New Year’s Eve without restrictions after Boris Johnson decided to resist bringing in fresh restrictions, following last year’s less than festive December lockdown.
Britons now face the lonely countdown towards January 1. They are posting their pain on social media. The English, however, breathe a sigh to be able to end the year with some bang.
Others suggest that disillusioned party-goers from Scotland or Wales might make the trip to England, rather than spend Friday night in solitary celebration.
Britons are now facing a depressing countdown until January 1, and they’re making it public on social media. Meanwhile, the English can breathe a sigh relief knowing that the year will end with a bang. Many are suggesting that demoralized party lovers from Scotland and Wales may make the trek to England instead of going home on Friday without any celebration.
After new Covid curbs in Wales, which placed restrictions on the hotel sector in Cardiff, a quiet High Street was seen in Cardiff Monday night
It comes after the Prime Minister held crunch talks with chief advisors Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance over the spread of Covid variant Omicron on Monday.
Johnson said he will use guidance rather than legally binding laws to reduce socialising in the New Year.
He stated that while we will monitor data closely, there won’t be any new restrictions in England prior to the New Year. Amid the increasing number of Omicron cases, however, I encourage everyone to be cautious.
“Most importantly, I advise everyone to immediately get their first or second booster jab to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
Official coronavirus statistics appeared to justify No10’s reluctance to resort to economically-crippling curbs, with the number of cases recorded in England having fallen every day since Christmas.
The number of people in hospital with Covid in England is less than half the same time last year – despite cases being three times higher.
And confirmed infections were up just 7 per cent in a week to 98,515 but the figures were for England only, and did not represent Britain’s situation as a whole.
England will remain the only British region where New Year’s Eve celebrations can be enjoyed without any restrictions. This is after Boris Johnson, who decided to forgo introducing new Covid curbs following last year’s unflinching December lockdown.
A tranquil Wind Street in Swansea during the implementation of Covid rules, which also saw the closing of nightclubs across Wales.
The cases in Scotland rose to new heights during Christmas, however, the totals won’t be updated until Wednesday as they are not included in the UKwide update. Tomorrow will see the official recording of Wales’ Christmas tolls.
First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford were also today accused of ‘jumping the gun’ and ‘devastating the hospitality industry’ by bringing in tougher restrictions.
On the Monday following the Bank Holiday Monday changes, the streets of Glasgow, Cardiff, Swansea and Edinburgh were seen looking glum and deserted.
England was the opposite. In England, however, the alcohol-fueled crowds of London and Leeds were still in festive spirits – braving the rain on Bank Holiday Monday in order to take advantage of the looser hospitality regulations.