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| Covid live news: Keir Starmer says Boris Johnson appears to have broken law over No 10 Christmas quiz | Covid live news: Keir Starmer says Boris Johnson appears to have broken law over No 10 Christmas quiz |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: UK prime minister seen at event that appears to be in breach of lockdown rules last year; minister defends PM insisting quiz was ‘virtual’ | Latest updates: UK prime minister seen at event that appears to be in breach of lockdown rules last year; minister defends PM insisting quiz was ‘virtual’ |
| Here’s footage from UK Labour leader Keir Starmer’s comments this morning (see also 09:51): | |
| 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. One in three people do not show symptoms, the department of health said. | |
| They said anyone whose rapid test comes back positive or develops symptoms should self-isolate and take a PCR test to verify the result. If the PCR test comes back positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days. If it comes back negative, contacts can stop self-isolating but should continue to take rapid tests for the remainder of the seven days. | |
| However, unvaccinated adults will not be eligible for the new daily testing policy. Instead they must self-isolate for 10 days if they are a contact of somebody who tests positive, unless they are eligible for existing workplace daily contact testing. | |
| Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said: | |
| Dr Jenny Harries, CEO of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said: | |
| New “plan b” Covid restrictions are expected to become law in England after Labour leader Keir Starmer confirmed that his party will be supporting Boris Johnson’s government in Tuesday’s vote. | |
| But the prime minister could face the largest rebellion of his premiership, with more than 60 Conservative MPs expected to be against the new restrictions. | But the prime minister could face the largest rebellion of his premiership, with more than 60 Conservative MPs expected to be against the new restrictions. |
| Among them is Matt Vickers, the Conservative MP for Stockton South, who today said he will be voting against the government. | Among them is Matt Vickers, the Conservative MP for Stockton South, who today said he will be voting against the government. |
| Vickers, who is one of the 2019 intake representing a so-called former Labour “red wall” constituency, told Times Radio: | Vickers, who is one of the 2019 intake representing a so-called former Labour “red wall” constituency, told Times Radio: |
| Asked whether he would be voting for plan b measures, he said: “I am not, no. You’ve heard it here first.” | Asked whether he would be voting for plan b measures, he said: “I am not, no. You’ve heard it here first.” |
| Asked how many might be joining him, he said: “I wouldn’t like to guess the number. In real terms, it is not a vote we’re probably likely to overturn the Government on anyway, so I think the numbers might be irrelevant - it is about people doing what they think is right.” | Asked how many might be joining him, he said: “I wouldn’t like to guess the number. In real terms, it is not a vote we’re probably likely to overturn the Government on anyway, so I think the numbers might be irrelevant - it is about people doing what they think is right.” |
| Starmer told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show earlier today that he will vote with the government, but that he will do so in support of the NHS rather than the prime minister. | Starmer told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show earlier today that he will vote with the government, but that he will do so in support of the NHS rather than the prime minister. |
| He said: “If you look at the science in relation to Omicron, the new variant, there is a real concern that we could be in a situation where the number of cases is doubling in a shorter period of two days. Now, I understand people say that that hasn’t led to higher hospitalisations and deaths yet, but the sheer volume of cases is very, very worrying.” | He said: “If you look at the science in relation to Omicron, the new variant, there is a real concern that we could be in a situation where the number of cases is doubling in a shorter period of two days. Now, I understand people say that that hasn’t led to higher hospitalisations and deaths yet, but the sheer volume of cases is very, very worrying.” |
| He added: “So, I’m not supporting the prime minister on Tuesday, I’m supporting our NHS, and I’m supporting the public in relation to this pandemic.” | He added: “So, I’m not supporting the prime minister on Tuesday, I’m supporting our NHS, and I’m supporting the public in relation to this pandemic.” |
| NHS doctors working on the pandemic frontline are furious at being treated as “Covid cannon fodder” rather than heroes, according to new research. | 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. | 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. |
| It found that doctors lacked the support they needed - including not having enough places to rest, food to eat or sufficient psychological support amid relentless shift patterns. | It found that doctors lacked the support they needed - including not having enough places to rest, food to eat or sufficient psychological support amid relentless shift patterns. |
| They said they were also frustrated at those not following public health advice and a lack of support from the government. | They said they were also frustrated at those not following public health advice and a lack of support from the government. |
| One senior doctor said: | One senior doctor said: |
| A junior doctor said: | A junior doctor said: |
| Dr Jo Daniels, the study’s lead researcher and a clinical psychologist at the University of Bath, said some of the stories were “truly devastating”. | Dr Jo Daniels, the study’s lead researcher and a clinical psychologist at the University of Bath, said some of the stories were “truly devastating”. |
| Here’s more on UK Omicron hospitalisations from science correspondent Hannah Devlin: | Here’s more on UK Omicron hospitalisations from science correspondent Hannah Devlin: |
| Russia’s registered Covid cases passed the 10 million mark today, after nearly 30,000 cases were reported in the last 24 hours. | 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. | 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. |
| The country also reported 1,132 deaths today, its lowest count since late October, reports Reuters. | The country also reported 1,132 deaths today, its lowest count since late October, reports Reuters. |
| UK prime minister Boris Johnson is facing the most testing week of his troubled premiership as a mounting Tory rebellion over new Covid-19 restrictions threatens his authority in parliament and a supposedly safe Conservative seat appears on a knife-edge ahead of a byelection on Thursday, writes the Observer’s political editor Toby Helm. | UK prime minister Boris Johnson is facing the most testing week of his troubled premiership as a mounting Tory rebellion over new Covid-19 restrictions threatens his authority in parliament and a supposedly safe Conservative seat appears on a knife-edge ahead of a byelection on Thursday, writes the Observer’s political editor Toby Helm. |
| Prof Hayward (see also 11:20) also said that the UK’s hospital system is already “on its knees” and faces a “big problem” ahead. | Prof Hayward (see also 11:20) also said that the UK’s hospital system is already “on its knees” and faces a “big problem” ahead. |
| It was put to Prof Hayward that people may think ministers feel they have to put extra restrictions in place “based on modelling and theories”. | It was put to Prof Hayward that people may think ministers feel they have to put extra restrictions in place “based on modelling and theories”. |
| He told LBC: | He told LBC: |
| Prof Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) from University College London, said Omicron is “much more infectious” than Delta and all previous Covid strains. | Prof Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) from University College London, said Omicron is “much more infectious” than Delta and all previous Covid strains. |
| “Maybe somewhere between twice and possibly three times as infectious,” he told LBC. “What we can also see is that the vaccine, two doses of the vaccine, has relatively little impact on stopping that transmission. | “Maybe somewhere between twice and possibly three times as infectious,” he told LBC. “What we can also see is that the vaccine, two doses of the vaccine, has relatively little impact on stopping that transmission. |
| “So putting those two together, and the fact that it’s already increasing, doubling every two or three days, what we can be pretty sure of is a very, very large wave of infections, bigger than the waves of infections that we’ve had before, so really the uncertainty is in how that’s going to translate into hospitalisations and deaths.” | “So putting those two together, and the fact that it’s already increasing, doubling every two or three days, what we can be pretty sure of is a very, very large wave of infections, bigger than the waves of infections that we’ve had before, so really the uncertainty is in how that’s going to translate into hospitalisations and deaths.” |
| 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 (see also 10am). | 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 (see also 10am). |
| Hopkins confirmed that the UK has seen its first Omicron hospitalisations in recent days and that she expects those numbers to rise. | Hopkins confirmed that the UK has seen its first Omicron hospitalisations in recent days and that she expects those numbers to rise. |
| She told BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show: | She told BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show: |
| She added: | She added: |
| In the UK, Conservative voters share their doubts about the prime minister in pro-Brexit Thanet. James Tapper reports: | In the UK, Conservative voters share their doubts about the prime minister in pro-Brexit Thanet. James Tapper reports: |
| Questioned about “mutinous MPs” and “disarray” in Downing Street at a G7 summit in Liverpool, UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said: | Questioned about “mutinous MPs” and “disarray” in Downing Street at a G7 summit in Liverpool, UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said: |
| She added: | She added: |
| ITV’s UK editor, Paul Brand, writes on Twitter: | ITV’s UK editor, Paul Brand, writes on Twitter: |
| Prof Barry Schoub, a Covid-19 adviser to the South African government, has advised against the UK “trivialising” Omicron’s impact and said it should be treated as seriously as Delta. | Prof Barry Schoub, a Covid-19 adviser to the South African government, has advised against the UK “trivialising” Omicron’s impact and said it should be treated as seriously as Delta. |
| He told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme: “I think we need to. I think we must avoid trivialising it. At this stage, we’re still gathering information.” | He told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme: “I think we need to. I think we must avoid trivialising it. At this stage, we’re still gathering information.” |
| He added: “So at the moment, we do need to treat it as seriously as Delta, with all the kind of precautions that we took for Delta. We can’t let up on that at the moment.” | He added: “So at the moment, we do need to treat it as seriously as Delta, with all the kind of precautions that we took for Delta. We can’t let up on that at the moment.” |
| Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary, also told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that “99%” of schools are open and that nativities should continue to take place. | Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary, also told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that “99%” of schools are open and that nativities should continue to take place. |
| When asked whether he could guarantee that schools would be open in January, he said: “I will do everything in my power”. | When asked whether he could guarantee that schools would be open in January, he said: “I will do everything in my power”. |
| Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, has insisted the government is not introducing a “vaccine passport”. | Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, has insisted the government is not introducing a “vaccine passport”. |
| He told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show: | He told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show: |
| Asked whether people are coming forward in sufficient numbers for booster vaccines, he said: | Asked whether people are coming forward in sufficient numbers for booster vaccines, he said: |
| Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary and former vaccines minister, has again defended the prime minister’s alleged Christmas quiz (see also 8:58), saying there’s no rule against “recognising Christmas with tinsel or a hat”. | Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary and former vaccines minister, has again defended the prime minister’s alleged Christmas quiz (see also 8:58), saying there’s no rule against “recognising Christmas with tinsel or a hat”. |
| He told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that his inbox is full of people thinking Boris Johnson is having parties with guests, but that now the public can “make their mind up when they see this picture of the prime minister on a virtual screen, on a Zoom, thanking his team who are in the building because they have to respond to a national emergency.” | He told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that his inbox is full of people thinking Boris Johnson is having parties with guests, but that now the public can “make their mind up when they see this picture of the prime minister on a virtual screen, on a Zoom, thanking his team who are in the building because they have to respond to a national emergency.” |
| He said they were colleagues, there was no drink and that there is no rule against “recognising Christmas with tinsel or a hat”. | He said they were colleagues, there was no drink and that there is no rule against “recognising Christmas with tinsel or a hat”. |