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| Covid live news: Boris Johnson to address nation on boosters as alert level raised from 3 to 4 due to Omicron | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: UK prime minister to give televised address; Starmer says Johnson looks to have broken Covid law with Christmas quiz | |
| UK prime minister Boris Johnson is to address the nation at 8pm GMT on Covid booster vaccines, amid growing concern about the highly-infectious Omicron variant. | |
| Johnson is not expected to announce any new Covid restrictions. | |
| My colleague Aubrey Allegretti has more. | |
| The UK Covid Alert Level has been increased from Level 3 to Level 4 “in light of the rapid increase in Omicron cases”, the four UK chief medical officers have said in a joint statement. | |
| Level 4 means “transmission is high and direct Covid-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising.” | |
| In the statement, the four UK chief medical officers and the NHS England national medical director said the emergence of Omicron “adds additional and rapidly increasing risk to the public and healthcare services”. | |
| The statement said: | |
| Italy reported 66 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, compared with 96 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections fell to 19,215 from 21,042. | Italy reported 66 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, compared with 96 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections fell to 19,215 from 21,042. |
| A week ago, the country had reported 43 deaths from the virus, and 15,010 fresh cases. | A week ago, the country had reported 43 deaths from the virus, and 15,010 fresh cases. |
| Italy’s infections have been increasing steadily since mid-October, and has recently seen an increase in the number of first vaccine doses administered. | Italy’s infections have been increasing steadily since mid-October, and has recently seen an increase in the number of first vaccine doses administered. |
| On Monday, the country introduced tighter restrictions on the unvaccinated in the form of a “super green pass”, which will stay in place until at least 15 January. | On Monday, the country introduced tighter restrictions on the unvaccinated in the form of a “super green pass”, which will stay in place until at least 15 January. |
| Hello, I’m Jedidajah Otte and I’ll be taking over for the next few hours. As ever, feel free to get in touch if you have anything to flag you think we should be covering, you can reach me on Twitter @JedySays or you can email me. | Hello, I’m Jedidajah Otte and I’ll be taking over for the next few hours. As ever, feel free to get in touch if you have anything to flag you think we should be covering, you can reach me on Twitter @JedySays or you can email me. |
| The UK recorded 48,854 new Covid cases today and 52 additional deaths. In the last week, 360,480 cases were confirmed, marking an 11.9% increase on the previous seven days. There were 834 deaths in the last week, an increase of 0.5%. | The UK recorded 48,854 new Covid cases today and 52 additional deaths. In the last week, 360,480 cases were confirmed, marking an 11.9% increase on the previous seven days. There were 834 deaths in the last week, an increase of 0.5%. |
| The UK has confirmed an additional 1,239 Omicron cases, marking the biggest daily rise to date. The new figures, published by the UK Health Security Agency, brings the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 3,137. | The UK has confirmed an additional 1,239 Omicron cases, marking the biggest daily rise to date. The new figures, published by the UK Health Security Agency, brings the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 3,137. |
| Nigeria is to ban flights from the UK, Argentina, Canada and Saudi Arabia in response to being added to red lists in those countries due to Omicron. The country’s aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, said today said he had recommended that the four countries be placed on Nigeria’s red list to ban flights. | Nigeria is to ban flights from the UK, Argentina, Canada and Saudi Arabia in response to being added to red lists in those countries due to Omicron. The country’s aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, said today said he had recommended that the four countries be placed on Nigeria’s red list to ban flights. |
| America’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, said that Omicron “clearly has a transmission advantage” over previous Covid strains as the new variant spread to at least half of US states. It comes as Omicron has spread to at least 25 states as the US approaches 800,000 Covid-related deaths. | America’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, said that Omicron “clearly has a transmission advantage” over previous Covid strains as the new variant spread to at least half of US states. It comes as Omicron has spread to at least 25 states as the US approaches 800,000 Covid-related deaths. |
| Austria has ended lockdown restrictions for vaccinated people across most of the country, three weeks after it was imposed. Rules vary by region but generally the change means theatres, museums and other cultural and entertainment venues will be allowed to reopen today and shops will follow tomorrow. | Austria has ended lockdown restrictions for vaccinated people across most of the country, three weeks after it was imposed. Rules vary by region but generally the change means theatres, museums and other cultural and entertainment venues will be allowed to reopen today and shops will follow tomorrow. |
| Vaccinated people who are identified as a contact of somebody who has tested positive for Covid-19 should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for a week, the UK government announced today. The new guidance, which starts on Tuesday, aims to identify asymptomatic cases among the vaccinated without forcing them to isolate. | Vaccinated people who are identified as a contact of somebody who has tested positive for Covid-19 should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for a week, the UK government announced today. The new guidance, which starts on Tuesday, aims to identify asymptomatic cases among the vaccinated without forcing them to isolate. |
| NHS doctors working on the pandemic frontline are furious at being treated as “Covid cannon fodder” rather than heroes, according to new research. In a first of its kind study, researchers from the universities of Bath and Bristol, UWE and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine collected the views of more than 1,300 doctors in the UK and Ireland since early 2020. | NHS doctors working on the pandemic frontline are furious at being treated as “Covid cannon fodder” rather than heroes, according to new research. In a first of its kind study, researchers from the universities of Bath and Bristol, UWE and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine collected the views of more than 1,300 doctors in the UK and Ireland since early 2020. |
| Russia’s registered Covid cases passed the 10 million mark today, after nearly 30,000 cases were reported in the last 24 hours. It comes as Russia recorded 29,929 new cases today - its lowest single-day case total since 13 October - bringing the official total since the start of the pandemic to 10,016,896. | Russia’s registered Covid cases passed the 10 million mark today, after nearly 30,000 cases were reported in the last 24 hours. It comes as Russia recorded 29,929 new cases today - its lowest single-day case total since 13 October - bringing the official total since the start of the pandemic to 10,016,896. |
| Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser for the UK Health Security Agency has said that the UK is facing an “inevitable” large wave of infections caused by Omicron, with more Covid measures likely to be needed. She also warned that “very difficult” decisions lie ahead for the government and that more Covid measures may be needed. | Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser for the UK Health Security Agency has said that the UK is facing an “inevitable” large wave of infections caused by Omicron, with more Covid measures likely to be needed. She also warned that “very difficult” decisions lie ahead for the government and that more Covid measures may be needed. |
| Labour leader Keir Starmer claims UK prime minister Boris Johnson is “unfit for office” and has breached public trust. He told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that that the prime minister’s alleged actions have “broken” trust which will result in many people deciding to stop follow coronavirus rules. He also said that Johnson appeared to have broken the law with an alleged Christmas quiz and that he must have known there were other groups taking part in other rooms. | Labour leader Keir Starmer claims UK prime minister Boris Johnson is “unfit for office” and has breached public trust. He told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that that the prime minister’s alleged actions have “broken” trust which will result in many people deciding to stop follow coronavirus rules. He also said that Johnson appeared to have broken the law with an alleged Christmas quiz and that he must have known there were other groups taking part in other rooms. |
| Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary and former vaccines minister, has defended allegations against Boris Johnson that he breached Covid rules to hold a Christmas quiz last year - insisting it was “virtual” and dismissing criticism about parties as “hype”. Zahawi told Trevor Phillips on Sunday on Sky News that the picture shows a “prime minister on a virtual quiz night for 10-15 minutes to thank his staff” who he said had no choice but to come into work. | Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary and former vaccines minister, has defended allegations against Boris Johnson that he breached Covid rules to hold a Christmas quiz last year - insisting it was “virtual” and dismissing criticism about parties as “hype”. Zahawi told Trevor Phillips on Sunday on Sky News that the picture shows a “prime minister on a virtual quiz night for 10-15 minutes to thank his staff” who he said had no choice but to come into work. |
| That’s it from me for today. Handing over to my colleague Jedidajah Otte. Thanks for reading. | That’s it from me for today. Handing over to my colleague Jedidajah Otte. Thanks for reading. |
| The UK recorded 48,854 new Covid cases today and 52 additional deaths. | The UK recorded 48,854 new Covid cases today and 52 additional deaths. |
| In the last week, 360,480 cases were confirmed, marking an 11.9% increase on the previous seven days. There were 834 deaths in the last week, an increase of 0.5%. | In the last week, 360,480 cases were confirmed, marking an 11.9% increase on the previous seven days. There were 834 deaths in the last week, an increase of 0.5%. |
| Yesterday the UK recorded 54,073 cases and 132 deaths. | Yesterday the UK recorded 54,073 cases and 132 deaths. |
| The UK has confirmed an additional 1,239 Omicron cases, marking the biggest daily rise to date. | The UK has confirmed an additional 1,239 Omicron cases, marking the biggest daily rise to date. |
| The new figures, published by the UK Health Security Agency, brings the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 3,137. | The new figures, published by the UK Health Security Agency, brings the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 3,137. |
| Of the new cases, 1,196 were in England, 28 in Scotland, 5 in Northern Ireland and 0 in Wales. | Of the new cases, 1,196 were in England, 28 in Scotland, 5 in Northern Ireland and 0 in Wales. |
| Nigeria is to ban flights from the UK, Argentina, Canada and Saudi Arabia in response to being added to red lists in those countries due to Omicron. | Nigeria is to ban flights from the UK, Argentina, Canada and Saudi Arabia in response to being added to red lists in those countries due to Omicron. |
| The country’s aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, said today said he had recommended that the four countries be placed on Nigeria’s red list to ban flights. | The country’s aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, said today said he had recommended that the four countries be placed on Nigeria’s red list to ban flights. |
| “We have given our input as aviation that it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries, Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina be also put on red list, just like they did similarly to us,” he said. | “We have given our input as aviation that it is not acceptable by us and we recommend that those countries, Canada, UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina be also put on red list, just like they did similarly to us,” he said. |
| “So, I am very sure between now and Monday or perhaps Tuesday maximum, all those countries will be put on the red list. Once they are on the red list, which means they are banned, their airlines will also be banned.” | “So, I am very sure between now and Monday or perhaps Tuesday maximum, all those countries will be put on the red list. Once they are on the red list, which means they are banned, their airlines will also be banned.” |
| More from top US infectious disease expert, Dr Fauci (see also 15:06), who says that three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine is “optimal care”. | More from top US infectious disease expert, Dr Fauci (see also 15:06), who says that three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine is “optimal care”. |
| “For official requirements, it’s still two shots of the mRNA [Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna] and one shot of the J&J for the official determination of what’s required or not. But I think if you look at the data, the more and more it becomes clear that if you want to be optimally protected you really should get a booster,” he told ABC News. | “For official requirements, it’s still two shots of the mRNA [Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna] and one shot of the J&J for the official determination of what’s required or not. But I think if you look at the data, the more and more it becomes clear that if you want to be optimally protected you really should get a booster,” he told ABC News. |
| America’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, said that Omicron “clearly has a transmission advantage” over previous Covid strains as the new variant spread to at least half of US states. | America’s top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, said that Omicron “clearly has a transmission advantage” over previous Covid strains as the new variant spread to at least half of US states. |
| President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser told ABC News that Omicron “appears to be able to evade some of the immune protection”. But in “encouraging news”, he said boosters raise protection high enough that it does “do well” against Omicron. | President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser told ABC News that Omicron “appears to be able to evade some of the immune protection”. But in “encouraging news”, he said boosters raise protection high enough that it does “do well” against Omicron. |
| He said they are getting anecdotal information that the level of severity appears to be a bit less than it was for Delta, but that it might be due to underlying protection in community due to prior infections. | He said they are getting anecdotal information that the level of severity appears to be a bit less than it was for Delta, but that it might be due to underlying protection in community due to prior infections. |
| It comes as Omicron has spread to at least 25 states as the US approaches 800,000 Covid-related deaths. | It comes as Omicron has spread to at least 25 states as the US approaches 800,000 Covid-related deaths. |