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UK Covid live: PM says people should not cancel Christmas events after highest cases since 17 July recorded | UK Covid live: PM says people should not cancel Christmas events after highest cases since 17 July recorded |
(33 minutes later) | |
Latest updates: Boris Johnson says ‘no need’ to cancel Christmas events as UK reports 53,945 daily coronavirus cases | Latest updates: Boris Johnson says ‘no need’ to cancel Christmas events as UK reports 53,945 daily coronavirus cases |
The UK Health Security Agency has said that a further seven cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in England. That takes the total for England to 29. | |
And a further three cases have been identified in Scotland, taking the Scottish total to 13. | |
The UK total is therefore 42. | |
Here are the local authority areas in England where cases have been confirmed. | |
Barnet – 2 | |
Bexley – 1 | |
Brentwood – 1 | |
Buckinghamshire – 2 | |
Camden – 2 | |
Chiltern - 1 | |
Haringey – 1 | |
Lambeth - 1 | |
Lancaster – 1 | |
Lewisham – 2 | |
Liverpool – 1 | |
Newham - 1 | |
North Norfolk – 1 | |
Nottingham – 1 | |
Oxford - 1 | |
South Cambridgeshire – 1 | |
South Northamptonshire – 2 | |
Spellthorne - 1 | |
Sutton – 1 | |
Three Rivers – 1 | |
Wandsworth – 1 | |
Westminster – 3 | |
George Freeman, the science minister, had a difficult time on the morning interview round this morning (see 9.40am and 10.16am), and then he received a minor slap-down from the No 10 press office. (See 12.22pm.) | |
But someone has come to his defence. This is from Natalie Bennett, the former Green party leader. Her comment sounds sincere and well-intentioned, although praise from the Green party is probably the last thing you need if you want your career to flourish in the Boris Johnson’s populist, Brexity Conservative party. | |
Starmer also said he was “quite surprised” to hear a minister saying people should not be snogging under the mistletoe this Christmas. (See 9.40am.) He told ITV: “I don’t think it’s the role of government to dictate who people can kiss or not kiss.” | |
Keir Starmer has said Labour is advocating a “common sense approach” to parties. He said he was not saying all Christmas parties should be cancelled, but he did think firms should look at the case for holding a party on an event by event basis. He said there was a difference from a planned party for hundreds of people, with attendees coming from all over the country, and possibly from abroad, and a party for colleagues who work together daily. | |
Labour has dug out a tweet that was posted by Boris Johnson on 18 December last year, the day of the second party at No 10 exposed by the Daily Mirror, saying people planning to form a Christmas bubble should minimise contact with others. | Labour has dug out a tweet that was posted by Boris Johnson on 18 December last year, the day of the second party at No 10 exposed by the Daily Mirror, saying people planning to form a Christmas bubble should minimise contact with others. |
Covid-19 case rates among the oldest age groups in England have fallen to their lowest level for nearly five months, PA Media reports. PA says: | Covid-19 case rates among the oldest age groups in England have fallen to their lowest level for nearly five months, PA Media reports. PA says: |
According to an Office for National Statistics report out today, an estimated 1.2 million people were suffering from long Covid – defined as experiencing symptoms for more than four weeks – at the end of October. That would amount to 1.9% of the population, or almost one person in 50. | According to an Office for National Statistics report out today, an estimated 1.2 million people were suffering from long Covid – defined as experiencing symptoms for more than four weeks – at the end of October. That would amount to 1.9% of the population, or almost one person in 50. |
Of those, 71% (an estimated 862,000 people) had had long Covid for at least 12 weeks, and 36% (an estimated 439,000) had had it for at least a year, the ONS says. | Of those, 71% (an estimated 862,000 people) had had long Covid for at least 12 weeks, and 36% (an estimated 439,000) had had it for at least a year, the ONS says. |
It also says 64% of long Covid sufferers (an estimated 775,000 people) said the condition had adversely affected their ability to carry out day-to-day activities, and 19% of sufferers (an estimated 232,000 people) said their ability to carry out these activities had been “limited a lot”. | It also says 64% of long Covid sufferers (an estimated 775,000 people) said the condition had adversely affected their ability to carry out day-to-day activities, and 19% of sufferers (an estimated 232,000 people) said their ability to carry out these activities had been “limited a lot”. |
These figures are in line with previous ONS reports on the impact of long Covid. | These figures are in line with previous ONS reports on the impact of long Covid. |
The UK has recorded 53,945 new Covid cases, according to this afternoon’s update to the coronavirus dashboard. The total number of new cases over the past week is only up 2.8% on the total for the previous week. But today’s total is the highest daily figure for recorded new cases for more than four months (since 17 July, when 54,674 cases were recorded). | The UK has recorded 53,945 new Covid cases, according to this afternoon’s update to the coronavirus dashboard. The total number of new cases over the past week is only up 2.8% on the total for the previous week. But today’s total is the highest daily figure for recorded new cases for more than four months (since 17 July, when 54,674 cases were recorded). |
And there have been 141 further deaths. Week on week, deaths are down 3%. | And there have been 141 further deaths. Week on week, deaths are down 3%. |
In his pooled interview for broadcasters Boris Johnson refused to discuss what happened at the Downing Street events last winter described by witnesses as parties. | In his pooled interview for broadcasters Boris Johnson refused to discuss what happened at the Downing Street events last winter described by witnesses as parties. |
No 10 has not denied that these events did take place, but it has also claimed that the lockdown rules were not broken. If the witness accounts are true (and No 10 is not saying they are not), then it is hard to see how that latter Downing Street claim can be correct. | No 10 has not denied that these events did take place, but it has also claimed that the lockdown rules were not broken. If the witness accounts are true (and No 10 is not saying they are not), then it is hard to see how that latter Downing Street claim can be correct. |
In the interview Johnson said he would be hosting various Christmas events in Downing Street this year, in accordance with the rules. | In the interview Johnson said he would be hosting various Christmas events in Downing Street this year, in accordance with the rules. |
When ITV’s Anushka Asthana asked why Johnson did not settle the dispute about the 2020 No 10 Christmas parties by explaining what actually happened, Johnson replied: “Because I’ve told you.” He then went on to repeat his point about there being no need for people to cancel Christmas events this winter. | When ITV’s Anushka Asthana asked why Johnson did not settle the dispute about the 2020 No 10 Christmas parties by explaining what actually happened, Johnson replied: “Because I’ve told you.” He then went on to repeat his point about there being no need for people to cancel Christmas events this winter. |
Although Downing Street is firmly saying people should not be cancelling Christmas parties, there is quite a lot of evidence now that some organisations or individuals are deciding to play it safe this winter. Patrick Dardis, head of the the pub group Young’s, which runs more than 270 sites across the UK, told PA Media: | Although Downing Street is firmly saying people should not be cancelling Christmas parties, there is quite a lot of evidence now that some organisations or individuals are deciding to play it safe this winter. Patrick Dardis, head of the the pub group Young’s, which runs more than 270 sites across the UK, told PA Media: |
Boris Johnson has given a pooled interview for broadcasters saying people should not be cancelling Christmas parties. When it was put to him that people were confused by the rules, and wanted to have them cleared up (see 9.40am), Johnson said: | Boris Johnson has given a pooled interview for broadcasters saying people should not be cancelling Christmas parties. When it was put to him that people were confused by the rules, and wanted to have them cleared up (see 9.40am), Johnson said: |
Johnson was being interviewed as he attended a vaccination centre to get his booster jab. | Johnson was being interviewed as he attended a vaccination centre to get his booster jab. |
At the news conference after the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said that the government had missed its deadline for introducing the bill to create an effective amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles. | At the news conference after the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said that the government had missed its deadline for introducing the bill to create an effective amnesty for crimes committed during the Troubles. |
Lewis announced the plan in July and later said that the government intended to legislate “this autumn”. Today Lewis said that he would need more time. He said: | Lewis announced the plan in July and later said that the government intended to legislate “this autumn”. Today Lewis said that he would need more time. He said: |