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| UK Covid live: No 10 refuses to back health chief’s call for people to avoid unnecessary socialising | UK Covid live: No 10 refuses to back health chief’s call for people to avoid unnecessary socialising |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Unusual rebuke for Dr Jenny Harries comes after she says reducing social contacts could help keep new variant’s spread at bay | Unusual rebuke for Dr Jenny Harries comes after she says reducing social contacts could help keep new variant’s spread at bay |
| Back in the Commons Sir Graham Brady, chair of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, says the government should have let MPs debate these regulations before they came into force. | Back in the Commons Sir Graham Brady, chair of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee, says the government should have let MPs debate these regulations before they came into force. |
| He echoes the concern expressed earlier (see 1.16pm) about the lack of an expiry date in the isolation regulations. And he says there are “very serious concerns about the efficacy of what is being proposed”. | He echoes the concern expressed earlier (see 1.16pm) about the lack of an expiry date in the isolation regulations. And he says there are “very serious concerns about the efficacy of what is being proposed”. |
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Con) says, although the government says it wants to avoid the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed, there is “no conceivable way” that could happen because 90% of the population have antibodies. | |
| Brady agrees, pointing out that Murrison is medically qualified. | Brady agrees, pointing out that Murrison is medically qualified. |
| Sir Desmond Swayne (Con) intervenes to say the danger with the current plans is that they could trigger another “pingdemic”. | Sir Desmond Swayne (Con) intervenes to say the danger with the current plans is that they could trigger another “pingdemic”. |
| Schools in England have seen a significant jump in Covid-related absence, according to the government’s attendance data. | Schools in England have seen a significant jump in Covid-related absence, according to the government’s attendance data. |
| As concerns about the new Omicron mutation grows, Department for Education statistics show that attendance in state schools has fallen from 91.5% to 89.3% over the space of a fortnight. | As concerns about the new Omicron mutation grows, Department for Education statistics show that attendance in state schools has fallen from 91.5% to 89.3% over the space of a fortnight. |
| Around 208,000 pupils (2.6%) were off for Covid-related reasons on 25 November, up sharply from 130,000 (1.6%) two weeks earlier on 11 November. | Around 208,000 pupils (2.6%) were off for Covid-related reasons on 25 November, up sharply from 130,000 (1.6%) two weeks earlier on 11 November. |
| These included 79,000 suspected cases of coronavirus, up from 50,000, and 106,000 with a confirmed case of Covid, up from 67,000 two weeks earlier. | These included 79,000 suspected cases of coronavirus, up from 50,000, and 106,000 with a confirmed case of Covid, up from 67,000 two weeks earlier. |
| Covid-related absence in schools dropped following the half-term break last month, but the reprieve was short-lived, said Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union. He said: | Covid-related absence in schools dropped following the half-term break last month, but the reprieve was short-lived, said Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union. He said: |
| Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, expressed concern about increased rates of absence among staff, with around 2% of teachers and school leaders absent due to Covid-related reasons last Thursday, up from 1.4% a fortnight earlier. He said: | |
| Downing Street has said that today’s press conference with Boris Johnson will take place at 4pm. | Downing Street has said that today’s press conference with Boris Johnson will take place at 4pm. |
| Alex Norris, a shadow health minister, is responding for Labour. He says Labour supports the two regulations being passed (covering the rules on face coverings, and the rules on isolating for close contacts of Omicron cases). He says in the past Labour criticised the government for acting slowly, and so he is glad that is not happening now. | |
| Mark Harper (Con) intervenes, and points out that yesterday he asked for an assurance from the government (which he did not get) that if the measures need to be extended over Christmas, parliament will be recalled from recess so MPs can get a vote. Would Labour back a recall in those circumstances? Norris says he will not comment on a hypothetical question, but he says he favours regulations getting proper scrutiny. | |
| In the Commons Mark Harper makes another intervention. He says the regulations being passed today on face masks expire on 20 December, but that regulation requiring close contacts of people who have tested positive for Omicron do not have a specific expiry date, which means they will run until the main statutory instrument relating to isolation expires in March 2022. | In the Commons Mark Harper makes another intervention. He says the regulations being passed today on face masks expire on 20 December, but that regulation requiring close contacts of people who have tested positive for Omicron do not have a specific expiry date, which means they will run until the main statutory instrument relating to isolation expires in March 2022. |
| Throup tells Harper he is making a very good point. Ministers will keep the house informed, she says. She says the regulations will not be kept in place any longer than necessary. | Throup tells Harper he is making a very good point. Ministers will keep the house informed, she says. She says the regulations will not be kept in place any longer than necessary. |
| In the Commons Maggie Throup, a health minister, is opening the debate on the new Covid restrictions. And she is already running into trouble over Jenny Harries. | In the Commons Maggie Throup, a health minister, is opening the debate on the new Covid restrictions. And she is already running into trouble over Jenny Harries. |
| Three of the most lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs - Sir Desmond Swayne, Mark Harper and Steve Baker - have challenged her over what Harries said this morning. They wanted her to explicitly reject what Harries said. | Three of the most lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs - Sir Desmond Swayne, Mark Harper and Steve Baker - have challenged her over what Harries said this morning. They wanted her to explicitly reject what Harries said. |
| Throup defended the government’s measures, but she would not explicitly reject Harries’ call for people to avoid unnecessary socialising - even when it was put to her that Boris Johnson himself said it was not the government’s position. It sounded as if Throup was not aware of the latest comments coming from No 10 (see 12.23pm) and from the PM (see 1.02pm). | Throup defended the government’s measures, but she would not explicitly reject Harries’ call for people to avoid unnecessary socialising - even when it was put to her that Boris Johnson himself said it was not the government’s position. It sounded as if Throup was not aware of the latest comments coming from No 10 (see 12.23pm) and from the PM (see 1.02pm). |
| Labour’s Rachael Maskell said that the government should be listening to Harries’s advice because she is a “public health professional and therefore really does understand what public health measures need to be taken to secure our well being against this pandemic”. | |
| UPDATE: This is from my colleague Aubrey Allegretti. | UPDATE: This is from my colleague Aubrey Allegretti. |
| Here is the full quote from Baker. He said: | |
| Throup replied: | |
| Boris Johnson has said that there is no need for people to change their plans for meeting up with people, or for travel, in the run-up to Christmas. | Boris Johnson has said that there is no need for people to change their plans for meeting up with people, or for travel, in the run-up to Christmas. |
| In an interview with Sky’s Sam Coates, Johnson was asked if people should modify their behaviour - for example, by avoiding school nativity plays, or cancelling foreign holidays - over the next few weeks. Johnson replied: | In an interview with Sky’s Sam Coates, Johnson was asked if people should modify their behaviour - for example, by avoiding school nativity plays, or cancelling foreign holidays - over the next few weeks. Johnson replied: |
| When asked why, if that was the case, Dr Jenny Harries said this morning that people should avoid unnecessary socialising (see 9.31am), Johnson implied that she was just urging people to be sensible. He said: | When asked why, if that was the case, Dr Jenny Harries said this morning that people should avoid unnecessary socialising (see 9.31am), Johnson implied that she was just urging people to be sensible. He said: |
| Actually, what Harries was saying went a bit beyond that. | Actually, what Harries was saying went a bit beyond that. |
| Johnson went on: | Johnson went on: |
| Ministers have failed to provide proper evidence to justify their decision to require all frontline NHS staff to get vaccinated, a Lords committee says today. | Ministers have failed to provide proper evidence to justify their decision to require all frontline NHS staff to get vaccinated, a Lords committee says today. |
| In a report (pdf), the Lords secondary legislation scrutiny committee says that the Department of Health and Social Care’s own figures suggest the benefits will not justify the cost. | In a report (pdf), the Lords secondary legislation scrutiny committee says that the Department of Health and Social Care’s own figures suggest the benefits will not justify the cost. |
| Sajid Javid, the health secretary, announced earlier this month that all frontline NHS staff will need to be fully vaccinated from 1 April next year. | Sajid Javid, the health secretary, announced earlier this month that all frontline NHS staff will need to be fully vaccinated from 1 April next year. |
| But the committee says: | But the committee says: |
| Lord Hodgson, the Conservative peer who chairs the committee, said: | Lord Hodgson, the Conservative peer who chairs the committee, said: |
| The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished, and No 10 has delivered an unusually firm rebuke to Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, on the subject of socialising at Christmas. (See 9.31am.) It seems that Boris Johnson is in favour of “socialising when we don’t particularly need to” (Harries’s phrase). | The Downing Street lobby briefing has just finished, and No 10 has delivered an unusually firm rebuke to Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, on the subject of socialising at Christmas. (See 9.31am.) It seems that Boris Johnson is in favour of “socialising when we don’t particularly need to” (Harries’s phrase). |
| The Sun’s Harry Cole has the key quotes. | The Sun’s Harry Cole has the key quotes. |
| The PM’s spokesman also revealed that Harries attended cabinet this morning to give an update on Covid. | The PM’s spokesman also revealed that Harries attended cabinet this morning to give an update on Covid. |
| The British Retail Consortium has said that people working in shops should not be expected to enforce the new law forcing customers to wear masks in retail premises. Helen Dickinson, the BRC chief executive, said: | The British Retail Consortium has said that people working in shops should not be expected to enforce the new law forcing customers to wear masks in retail premises. Helen Dickinson, the BRC chief executive, said: |
| And Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, told the Today programme this morning that he would not be asking staff in his stores to enforce mask wearing by customers. He said: | And Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, told the Today programme this morning that he would not be asking staff in his stores to enforce mask wearing by customers. He said: |
| The University of Oxford has said that it can “rapidly” update its Covid-19 vaccine “if it should be necessary” amid rising concerns about the Omicron variant. A university spokesperson said today: | The University of Oxford has said that it can “rapidly” update its Covid-19 vaccine “if it should be necessary” amid rising concerns about the Omicron variant. A university spokesperson said today: |
| Labour is not moving right of the political spectrum but instead moving north, Lisa Nandy has claimed. | Labour is not moving right of the political spectrum but instead moving north, Lisa Nandy has claimed. |
| Commenting on yesterday’s reshuffle, Nandy, who yesterday was moved from shadow foreign secretary to shadow levelling up secretary, told Sky News: | Commenting on yesterday’s reshuffle, Nandy, who yesterday was moved from shadow foreign secretary to shadow levelling up secretary, told Sky News: |
| Scotland’s health minister, Humza Yousaf, has confirmed three more cases of the Omicron variant, raising the tally to five in Lanarkshire and four in Greater Glasgow and Clyde health boards, as questions continue about how the variant ended up there. | Scotland’s health minister, Humza Yousaf, has confirmed three more cases of the Omicron variant, raising the tally to five in Lanarkshire and four in Greater Glasgow and Clyde health boards, as questions continue about how the variant ended up there. |
| He told BBC Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme that “nothing that links these cases back to Cop26 or the [South Africa-Scotland] rugby match. Of the current cases that we have found that timing would be off to link them”. | He told BBC Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme that “nothing that links these cases back to Cop26 or the [South Africa-Scotland] rugby match. Of the current cases that we have found that timing would be off to link them”. |
| Yousaf said that more than 200 positive cases from Cop26 had been re-examined in the light of the new variant. | Yousaf said that more than 200 positive cases from Cop26 had been re-examined in the light of the new variant. |
| The six cases confirmed on Monday were not linked to travel, according to the Scottish government, and suggested a degree of community transmission. | The six cases confirmed on Monday were not linked to travel, according to the Scottish government, and suggested a degree of community transmission. |
| At yesterday’s Covid briefing, Scotland’s chief medical officer, Gregor Smith said that the first Omicron case in Scotland was tested six days ago. “The earliest indication we have at this moment in time - and I stress at this moment in time - is that the first positive PCR test in relation to this, a confirmed case, is the 23rd of November,” he said. | At yesterday’s Covid briefing, Scotland’s chief medical officer, Gregor Smith said that the first Omicron case in Scotland was tested six days ago. “The earliest indication we have at this moment in time - and I stress at this moment in time - is that the first positive PCR test in relation to this, a confirmed case, is the 23rd of November,” he said. |
| But he also explained that health officials were conducting a “loop back exercise” of going through previous PCR tests back to 16 November now that they know what to look for as an indication of the Omicron variant. | But he also explained that health officials were conducting a “loop back exercise” of going through previous PCR tests back to 16 November now that they know what to look for as an indication of the Omicron variant. |
| He said that one of the “quirks” of the new variant was the presence of an “S-gene dropout or negative on PCR testing”. This allowed specialises to identify a potential Omicron case before genomic sequencing and allowed them to make immediate contact with individuals to undertake advanced contact tracing. | He said that one of the “quirks” of the new variant was the presence of an “S-gene dropout or negative on PCR testing”. This allowed specialises to identify a potential Omicron case before genomic sequencing and allowed them to make immediate contact with individuals to undertake advanced contact tracing. |
| Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the “loop back exercise” had led to the identification of all six cases in Scotland yesterday. | Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the “loop back exercise” had led to the identification of all six cases in Scotland yesterday. |
| Richard Moore, the head of MI6, has warned about China’s use of financial and data power to wield influence as he set out the need for Britain’s spies to work with the global tech sector to maintain cutting-edge capabilities, PA Media reports. PA says: | Richard Moore, the head of MI6, has warned about China’s use of financial and data power to wield influence as he set out the need for Britain’s spies to work with the global tech sector to maintain cutting-edge capabilities, PA Media reports. PA says: |
| In his statement to MPs yesterday Sajid Javid, the health secretary, suggested that if it turns out that the Omicron variant is no more dangerous than Delta, then the new measures coming into force today will be lifted. The government expects to have a much better idea of the threat posed by Omicron within three weeks and Javid seemed to be dangling before MPs the possibility of the latest restrictions could be gone before Christmas. | In his statement to MPs yesterday Sajid Javid, the health secretary, suggested that if it turns out that the Omicron variant is no more dangerous than Delta, then the new measures coming into force today will be lifted. The government expects to have a much better idea of the threat posed by Omicron within three weeks and Javid seemed to be dangling before MPs the possibility of the latest restrictions could be gone before Christmas. |
| That is what the more lockdown-sceptic Conservatives (a significant chunk of the parliamentary party) want to hear. But is it remotely probable? In her Today interview, Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), was repeatedly asked if she could imagine saying to ministers in two or three weeks’ time that the latest measures could be lifted. Harries rather skilfully avoided answering the question directly, although astute listeners may have concluded that, if forced to give an answer, it would have been “probably not”. | That is what the more lockdown-sceptic Conservatives (a significant chunk of the parliamentary party) want to hear. But is it remotely probable? In her Today interview, Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), was repeatedly asked if she could imagine saying to ministers in two or three weeks’ time that the latest measures could be lifted. Harries rather skilfully avoided answering the question directly, although astute listeners may have concluded that, if forced to give an answer, it would have been “probably not”. |
| Here are the key points. | Here are the key points. |
| Harries played down the prospect of the latest Covid restrictions being lifted before Christmas. She would not answer when she was asked if she could imagine this happening, but she stressed the possible threat posed by Omicron and said that it was important to be “very careful”. She said the new measures were designed to give the authorities time to study the threat posed by the new variant. She also said that escalating the booster programme would give Britain better protection. | Harries played down the prospect of the latest Covid restrictions being lifted before Christmas. She would not answer when she was asked if she could imagine this happening, but she stressed the possible threat posed by Omicron and said that it was important to be “very careful”. She said the new measures were designed to give the authorities time to study the threat posed by the new variant. She also said that escalating the booster programme would give Britain better protection. |
| She said it was “highly likely” that the vaccines would offer some protection against Omicron. But she said it was also “likely” that that effectiveness would be reduced. | She said it was “highly likely” that the vaccines would offer some protection against Omicron. But she said it was also “likely” that that effectiveness would be reduced. |
| She said, even if vaccines offer some protection against Omicron, the new variant could still lead to hospitals coming under significantly more pressure. Asked about the prospect of the latest measures being lifted before Christmas, she said: | She said, even if vaccines offer some protection against Omicron, the new variant could still lead to hospitals coming under significantly more pressure. Asked about the prospect of the latest measures being lifted before Christmas, she said: |
| She encouraged people to cut back on unnecessary socialising over winter while the threat posed by Omicron remains unclear. (See 9.31am.) | She encouraged people to cut back on unnecessary socialising over winter while the threat posed by Omicron remains unclear. (See 9.31am.) |
| She said there has been no significant rise in the presence of S-gene target failure in the positive Covid cases being examined in the UK. S-gene target failure is not proof of Omicron (other variants feature it), but given that it is now very rare, and that Omicron does feature it (or S-gene dropout, as it is sometimes called), it is a good indicator for Omicron. “We have seen no rise, no significant rise, from the normal 1 in 1,000 cases that we would normally have,” she said. | She said there has been no significant rise in the presence of S-gene target failure in the positive Covid cases being examined in the UK. S-gene target failure is not proof of Omicron (other variants feature it), but given that it is now very rare, and that Omicron does feature it (or S-gene dropout, as it is sometimes called), it is a good indicator for Omicron. “We have seen no rise, no significant rise, from the normal 1 in 1,000 cases that we would normally have,” she said. |
| She said early reports about Omicron having only a mild impact in South Africa should be treated with caution because its population was so different. She said the average age of the population in South Africa is 27. In the UK it is 41. And she said Omicron, like other coronavirus variants, is thought to be much worse for older people not younger younger. | She said early reports about Omicron having only a mild impact in South Africa should be treated with caution because its population was so different. She said the average age of the population in South Africa is 27. In the UK it is 41. And she said Omicron, like other coronavirus variants, is thought to be much worse for older people not younger younger. |
| Good morning. We’ve got another day where politics will be largely dominated by news and debate about the measures being taken in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. There will be a debate and vote in the Commons, statements from the Scottish and Welsh governments, and a press conference from Boris Johnson this afternoon, focusing on booster vaccines. And this morning Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has been on the Today programme. The new Covid restrictions for England announced by the government were relatively minimal compared with what they might have been - many countries have significantly tougher rules for Delta - but Harries gave a hint of of how scientists’ preferences are some way ahead of what politicians are willing to legislate for when she said it would better if avoided unnecessary socialising. | Good morning. We’ve got another day where politics will be largely dominated by news and debate about the measures being taken in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. There will be a debate and vote in the Commons, statements from the Scottish and Welsh governments, and a press conference from Boris Johnson this afternoon, focusing on booster vaccines. And this morning Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has been on the Today programme. The new Covid restrictions for England announced by the government were relatively minimal compared with what they might have been - many countries have significantly tougher rules for Delta - but Harries gave a hint of of how scientists’ preferences are some way ahead of what politicians are willing to legislate for when she said it would better if avoided unnecessary socialising. |
| Harries stressed that we still don’t know how serious is the threat posed by Omicron. Asked if she wanted to see more people working from home (a measure in the UK government’s plan B, but not one that it has yet implemented), Harries told the programme: | Harries stressed that we still don’t know how serious is the threat posed by Omicron. Asked if she wanted to see more people working from home (a measure in the UK government’s plan B, but not one that it has yet implemented), Harries told the programme: |
| I will post more from her interview shortly. | I will post more from her interview shortly. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet. | 9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet. |
| Morning: Keir Starmer chairs a meeting of his new shadow cabinet. | Morning: Keir Starmer chairs a meeting of his new shadow cabinet. |
| 9.30am: Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of energy regulator Ofgem, gives evidence to the Lords industry and regulators committee about energy prices. | 9.30am: Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of energy regulator Ofgem, gives evidence to the Lords industry and regulators committee about energy prices. |
| 10.15am: Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, gives evidence to the Commons privileges committee about the powers committees should have to summon witnesses. | 10.15am: Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, gives evidence to the Commons privileges committee about the powers committees should have to summon witnesses. |
| 11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing. | 11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing. |
| 11.30am: Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, takes questions in the Commons. David Lammy will respond for Labour as the new shadow foreign secretary. | 11.30am: Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, takes questions in the Commons. David Lammy will respond for Labour as the new shadow foreign secretary. |
| 12.15pm: Eluned Morgan, the Welsh government’s health minister, holds a Covid briefing. | 12.15pm: Eluned Morgan, the Welsh government’s health minister, holds a Covid briefing. |
| After 12.45pm: MPs begin a three-hour debate on the new Covid restrictions for England announced at the weekend. | After 12.45pm: MPs begin a three-hour debate on the new Covid restrictions for England announced at the weekend. |
| After 2pm: Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, gives a statement to the Scottish parliament on Covid. | After 2pm: Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, gives a statement to the Scottish parliament on Covid. |
| Around 4pm: MPs begin a debate on an SNP motion censuring Boris Johnson for dishonesty and other breaches of standards. | Around 4pm: MPs begin a debate on an SNP motion censuring Boris Johnson for dishonesty and other breaches of standards. |
| Afternoon: Boris Johnson holds a press conference. | Afternoon: Boris Johnson holds a press conference. |
| I will be covering UK Covid developments here, as well as non-Covid politics, but for global Covid developments, do read our global live blog. | I will be covering UK Covid developments here, as well as non-Covid politics, but for global Covid developments, do read our global live blog. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com | Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com |