This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/dec/13/uk-covid-live-nhs-appointments-postponed-help-omicron-booster-jabs-boris-johnson-latest-updates
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| UK Covid live: 1,576 new Omicron cases detected as patients in hospital with new variant aged 18-85 | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: new variant cases rise 50% in a day to 4,713; Omicron patients hospitalised in England aged between 18 and 85, UKHSA says | |
| Jim Reed, the BBC’s health reporter, says the government is planning to drop the requirement for people to stay in a vaccine centre for 15 minutes after having a Pfizer or Moderna jab to make sure they don’t suffer an adverse reaction. | |
| Prof Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care at Imperial College London, said earlier that this change would speed up the through-put at vaccination clinics. | |
| The UK Health Security Agency has also released a little more information about the 10 patients hospitalised with a confirmed case of Omicron in England, one of whom has died. (See 11.55am.) | |
| The Conservative MP Marcus Fysh told the BBC earlier today that he would not be voting for the introduction of Covid passport for large venues in England because he did not want to live in a “papers please” society. | |
| Displaying a cavalier disregard for Godwin’s law, Fysh told Radio 5 Live. | |
| NHS Digital says 290,000 people have now booked a vaccine appointment on its website. In response to questions about why the website has been overwhelmed with demand, a spokesperson said: | NHS Digital says 290,000 people have now booked a vaccine appointment on its website. In response to questions about why the website has been overwhelmed with demand, a spokesperson said: |
| The UK Health Security Agency has said the number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK has risen by 1,576 from yesterday and is now 4,713. That is a 50% increase. | The UK Health Security Agency has said the number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK has risen by 1,576 from yesterday and is now 4,713. That is a 50% increase. |
| Here is the clip of Boris Johnson responding to questions about his participation in a Downing Street Christmas quiz on 15 December last year when he was interviewed this morning. In it, he clearly said that Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, would be able to look at this event in his review of No 10 parties, and whether they broke lockdown rules. | Here is the clip of Boris Johnson responding to questions about his participation in a Downing Street Christmas quiz on 15 December last year when he was interviewed this morning. In it, he clearly said that Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, would be able to look at this event in his review of No 10 parties, and whether they broke lockdown rules. |
| But as Sky’s Beth Rigby, who interviewed Johnson, points out, the PM also seems to have shifted his line on wrongdoing at No 10 last Christmas. He is now stressing that he personally broke no rules. “I certainly broke no rules,” he said. | But as Sky’s Beth Rigby, who interviewed Johnson, points out, the PM also seems to have shifted his line on wrongdoing at No 10 last Christmas. He is now stressing that he personally broke no rules. “I certainly broke no rules,” he said. |
| Until now the line from No 10 has been that no rules were broken last year. Now Johnson seems to be implying that perhaps others did break the rules. Case was looking into “all these things’, Johnson said. | Until now the line from No 10 has been that no rules were broken last year. Now Johnson seems to be implying that perhaps others did break the rules. Case was looking into “all these things’, Johnson said. |
| Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former chief adviser who, since his departure from No 10, has become one of his most vehement critics, thinks this means Johnson is preparing to dump the blame for partygate on others. | Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former chief adviser who, since his departure from No 10, has become one of his most vehement critics, thinks this means Johnson is preparing to dump the blame for partygate on others. |
| Almost half of “outstanding” schools in England have been downgraded by Ofsted following inspection this term, with more than one in 10 dropping to “requires improvement” or even “inadequate”, according to data published today. | Almost half of “outstanding” schools in England have been downgraded by Ofsted following inspection this term, with more than one in 10 dropping to “requires improvement” or even “inadequate”, according to data published today. |
| Outstanding schools were until recently exempt from regular inspection, so many have not been visited by the schools inspectorate for up to 10 years or more. | Outstanding schools were until recently exempt from regular inspection, so many have not been visited by the schools inspectorate for up to 10 years or more. |
| They are however likely to feel aggrieved at being downgraded at a time of widespread disruption in schools due to Covid. | They are however likely to feel aggrieved at being downgraded at a time of widespread disruption in schools due to Covid. |
| Data published by Ofsted today shows that during the three months up to the end of November 47% of schools previously rated outstanding have lost their top rating following inspection this term. Ofsted said the data relates to 99 previously outstanding schools visited by inspectors during the autumn term. | Data published by Ofsted today shows that during the three months up to the end of November 47% of schools previously rated outstanding have lost their top rating following inspection this term. Ofsted said the data relates to 99 previously outstanding schools visited by inspectors during the autumn term. |
| According to Ofsted, 36% of these schools were downgraded to “good”, 9% went down two rankings to “requires improvement” and 2% were judged “inadequate” which is the lowest possible ranking. | According to Ofsted, 36% of these schools were downgraded to “good”, 9% went down two rankings to “requires improvement” and 2% were judged “inadequate” which is the lowest possible ranking. |
| The overall grade profile for schools has, however, improved overall, Ofsted said, with 83% of schools judged good or outstanding between September and November this year, compared with 77% between September 2019 and March 2020 when inspections were suspended due to the pandemic. | The overall grade profile for schools has, however, improved overall, Ofsted said, with 83% of schools judged good or outstanding between September and November this year, compared with 77% between September 2019 and March 2020 when inspections were suspended due to the pandemic. |
| This is from Humza Yousaf, the Scottish government’s health secretary, on the lateral flow test supply problems. | This is from Humza Yousaf, the Scottish government’s health secretary, on the lateral flow test supply problems. |
| The Downing Street lobby briefing was dominated by questions about Covid this morning. Here are the key points. | The Downing Street lobby briefing was dominated by questions about Covid this morning. Here are the key points. |
| No 10 said that lateral flow tests had not run out, and that people could not order them today because of postal problems that were being addressed. (See 1pm.) | No 10 said that lateral flow tests had not run out, and that people could not order them today because of postal problems that were being addressed. (See 1pm.) |
| Downing Street said “further capacity” was being added to make it easier for people to book booster appointments on the NHS website. Asked about the problems being encountered today (see 10.46am), the PM’s spokesman said: | Downing Street said “further capacity” was being added to make it easier for people to book booster appointments on the NHS website. Asked about the problems being encountered today (see 10.46am), the PM’s spokesman said: |
| The spokesman also said 110,000 people booked a booster before 9am this morning. | The spokesman also said 110,000 people booked a booster before 9am this morning. |
| The spokesman did not rule out the government introducing tougher restrictions over Christmas during the parliamentary recess. He said that all options were kept under review and that “in extremis” the government could introduce public health measures without a vote in parliament first. | The spokesman did not rule out the government introducing tougher restrictions over Christmas during the parliamentary recess. He said that all options were kept under review and that “in extremis” the government could introduce public health measures without a vote in parliament first. |
| He said that the government’s aim was for all adults to get a booster jab before the end of the year, not just to be able to book one. | He said that the government’s aim was for all adults to get a booster jab before the end of the year, not just to be able to book one. |
| He said booster jabs should be available on Christmas Day. He said: | He said booster jabs should be available on Christmas Day. He said: |
| Last year vaccines were available on Christmas Day, he said, although “we didn’t see a huge demand”. | Last year vaccines were available on Christmas Day, he said, although “we didn’t see a huge demand”. |
| The spokesman said around 750 troops had been mobilised to support the booster programme, as well as 50 military planning experts working centrally. | The spokesman said around 750 troops had been mobilised to support the booster programme, as well as 50 military planning experts working centrally. |
| He said the government was still waiting for approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before going ahead with vaccines for under-12s. | He said the government was still waiting for approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before going ahead with vaccines for under-12s. |
| Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has claimed the problems people are having ordering lateral flow tests from the government website today show Boris Johnson has got his priorities wrong. | Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has claimed the problems people are having ordering lateral flow tests from the government website today show Boris Johnson has got his priorities wrong. |
| This is what the UK Health Security Agency said about the problems people are having today ordering lateral flow tests from the government’s website. A spokesperson said: | This is what the UK Health Security Agency said about the problems people are having today ordering lateral flow tests from the government’s website. A spokesperson said: |
| Information about how to collect a lateral flow test from a nearby pharmacy is available on the NHS website here. | Information about how to collect a lateral flow test from a nearby pharmacy is available on the NHS website here. |
| In the Commons a Home Office minister will respond to an urgent question from Labour’s Dame Margaret Hodge at 3.30pm about the Met failings in the Stephen Port case. That means the Sajid Javid statement on Covid will start at about 4.15pm. | In the Commons a Home Office minister will respond to an urgent question from Labour’s Dame Margaret Hodge at 3.30pm about the Met failings in the Stephen Port case. That means the Sajid Javid statement on Covid will start at about 4.15pm. |
| The number of people using 16 major railway stations in England and Scotland between 6am and 9.30am on Monday was down compared with the previous week, PA Media reports. PA says: | The number of people using 16 major railway stations in England and Scotland between 6am and 9.30am on Monday was down compared with the previous week, PA Media reports. PA says: |
| Today the new advice in England to work from home if possible came into effect. | Today the new advice in England to work from home if possible came into effect. |
| Nigel Farage, the former Ukip and Brexit party who is now a GB News presenter, but who claims to be mulling over a politcal comeback, claims that Boris Johnson is just talking up the threat from Omicron as a “cynical ploy” to save his career. | Nigel Farage, the former Ukip and Brexit party who is now a GB News presenter, but who claims to be mulling over a politcal comeback, claims that Boris Johnson is just talking up the threat from Omicron as a “cynical ploy” to save his career. |