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| UK Covid: Sajid Javid says Omicron makes up 20% of cases in England – as it happened | |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: health secretary tells MPs no variant has spread as fast as confirmed cases of the variant rise 50% in a day | Latest updates: health secretary tells MPs no variant has spread as fast as confirmed cases of the variant rise 50% in a day |
| Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has told MPs that the Omicron variant now accounts for 20% of Covid cases in England and that around 200,000 people are infected with it. (See 4.19pm and 6.19pm.) | Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has told MPs that the Omicron variant now accounts for 20% of Covid cases in England and that around 200,000 people are infected with it. (See 4.19pm and 6.19pm.) |
| At least one person in the UK had died with the Omicron variant, Boris Johnson has said as he refused to rule out imposing further restrictions across England in the run-up to Christmas. | At least one person in the UK had died with the Omicron variant, Boris Johnson has said as he refused to rule out imposing further restrictions across England in the run-up to Christmas. |
| Johnson has said that he personally broke no Covid rules in Downing Street last year - implying the inquiry by Simon Case may concluded that some of his staff did. (See 2.15pm.) | Johnson has said that he personally broke no Covid rules in Downing Street last year - implying the inquiry by Simon Case may concluded that some of his staff did. (See 2.15pm.) |
| Headteachers are warning of “chaos” in England’s schools as Omicron sweeps across the country, with high levels of staff and pupil absences and reports that parents are planning to keep children home to avoid the virus before Christmas. | Headteachers are warning of “chaos” in England’s schools as Omicron sweeps across the country, with high levels of staff and pupil absences and reports that parents are planning to keep children home to avoid the virus before Christmas. |
| Lateral flow home test kits have become unavailable online and NHS England has advised people attempting to book a Covid booster jab to try later or on Tuesday as extremely high demand overwhelmed the government’s website. | Lateral flow home test kits have become unavailable online and NHS England has advised people attempting to book a Covid booster jab to try later or on Tuesday as extremely high demand overwhelmed the government’s website. |
| Bookmakers have made the Liberal Democrats the favourites to win this week’s North Shropshire byelection, odds that if reflected in Thursday’s vote would deliver a significant fresh blow to Boris Johnson’s authority. | Bookmakers have made the Liberal Democrats the favourites to win this week’s North Shropshire byelection, odds that if reflected in Thursday’s vote would deliver a significant fresh blow to Boris Johnson’s authority. |
| That is all from me for today. | That is all from me for today. |
| But our coverage continues on our global Covid blog. It’s here. | But our coverage continues on our global Covid blog. It’s here. |
| All eligible adults in Wales are to be offered an appointment for a booster jab by the end of this month. But this does not mean that everyone who wants one will actually get the jab by 31 December becausee some will take place in January. | All eligible adults in Wales are to be offered an appointment for a booster jab by the end of this month. But this does not mean that everyone who wants one will actually get the jab by 31 December becausee some will take place in January. |
| The Welsh administration has not gone as far as the UK, which has said that the aim is for all adults to get a booster before the end of the year, not just to be able to book one. Welsh ministers believe their ambition is more realistic than the UK’s. | The Welsh administration has not gone as far as the UK, which has said that the aim is for all adults to get a booster before the end of the year, not just to be able to book one. Welsh ministers believe their ambition is more realistic than the UK’s. |
| In a televised message to Wales on Monday evening, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, will hint that more restrictions may not be far away, saying: | In a televised message to Wales on Monday evening, the first minister, Mark Drakeford, will hint that more restrictions may not be far away, saying: |
| Drakeford is to say: | Drakeford is to say: |
| Drakeford is urging people to come forward for a booster. “Please make getting a booster a priority.” | Drakeford is urging people to come forward for a booster. “Please make getting a booster a priority.” |
| A health source has clarified what Sajid Javid meant in the Commons when he implied Omicron infections were running at 200,000 per day. (See 4.19pm and 5.2opm.) | A health source has clarified what Sajid Javid meant in the Commons when he implied Omicron infections were running at 200,000 per day. (See 4.19pm and 5.2opm.) |
| Javid was indeed referring to Omicron infections, not Covid infections. | Javid was indeed referring to Omicron infections, not Covid infections. |
| But he was speaking about a UK Health Security Agency estimate for the total number of people currently infected with Omicron, not the number who are catching the infection for the first time every day (ie daily new cases). | But he was speaking about a UK Health Security Agency estimate for the total number of people currently infected with Omicron, not the number who are catching the infection for the first time every day (ie daily new cases). |
| The Scottish parliament has again cancelled an evidence session with Nicola Sturgeon this week after the authorities reduced in-person hearings because of the fresh Covid crisis. The decision means the first minister has avoided around four potential witness sessions on her policies due to restrictions imposed during the pandemic. | The Scottish parliament has again cancelled an evidence session with Nicola Sturgeon this week after the authorities reduced in-person hearings because of the fresh Covid crisis. The decision means the first minister has avoided around four potential witness sessions on her policies due to restrictions imposed during the pandemic. |
| The first minister was due to be quizzed by all Holyrood’s committee convenors on Wednesday, in a session which has previously lasted several hours. These sessions are supposed to take place every six months: the last was in November 2019. | The first minister was due to be quizzed by all Holyrood’s committee convenors on Wednesday, in a session which has previously lasted several hours. These sessions are supposed to take place every six months: the last was in November 2019. |
| In a statement, Holyrood said: | In a statement, Holyrood said: |
| During his statement in the Commons Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said he wanted strict travel rules for people arriving in the UK eased given the spread of Omicron already in this country. | During his statement in the Commons Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said he wanted strict travel rules for people arriving in the UK eased given the spread of Omicron already in this country. |
| Labour’s Ben Bradshaw called for the “very draconian, costly and complex” travel rules introduced only recently to try and stop Omicron arriving in the UK to be dropped. | Labour’s Ben Bradshaw called for the “very draconian, costly and complex” travel rules introduced only recently to try and stop Omicron arriving in the UK to be dropped. |
| Javid replied: | Javid replied: |
| Getting booster jabs to all Scots aged 18 and above by the end of this year will be a “monumental challenge”, Nicola Sturgeon has conceded. PA Media says: | Getting booster jabs to all Scots aged 18 and above by the end of this year will be a “monumental challenge”, Nicola Sturgeon has conceded. PA Media says: |
| NHS leaders in England have told MPs that they would be “irresponsible” not to approve the government’s Plan B when parliament votes on its provisions tomorrow. Matthew Taylor, chef executive of the NHS Confederation, said: | NHS leaders in England have told MPs that they would be “irresponsible” not to approve the government’s Plan B when parliament votes on its provisions tomorrow. Matthew Taylor, chef executive of the NHS Confederation, said: |
| Failing to put in place measures to slow the spread of coronavirus could lead to much tougher restrictions being introduced next year, Taylor added. The NHS Confederation represents NHS care provider organisations in England and Wales. | Failing to put in place measures to slow the spread of coronavirus could lead to much tougher restrictions being introduced next year, Taylor added. The NHS Confederation represents NHS care provider organisations in England and Wales. |
| Taylor went on: | Taylor went on: |
| In his opening statement Sajid Javid seemed to be talking about there being 200,000 Omicron infections per day, but he may have been talking about 200,000 Covid infections per day. The Department of Health and Social Care have been asked to clarify this, and an official is due to call me back. In the meantime I have taken down the headline on the post at 4.19pm. | In his opening statement Sajid Javid seemed to be talking about there being 200,000 Omicron infections per day, but he may have been talking about 200,000 Covid infections per day. The Department of Health and Social Care have been asked to clarify this, and an official is due to call me back. In the meantime I have taken down the headline on the post at 4.19pm. |
| Recorded Covid cases are running at around 50,000 per day - today’s figure is 54,661 - but many people who are ill do not do a test, and many people get infected asymptomatically. | Recorded Covid cases are running at around 50,000 per day - today’s figure is 54,661 - but many people who are ill do not do a test, and many people get infected asymptomatically. |
| The ONS Covid surveillance report published last week estimated that more than one million people in the UK had the virus, but that was covering the week ending 1 December. | The ONS Covid surveillance report published last week estimated that more than one million people in the UK had the virus, but that was covering the week ending 1 December. |
| Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, asked for an assurance that the government would recall parliament over Christmas if it wants to tighten regulations. | Mark Harper, chair of the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, asked for an assurance that the government would recall parliament over Christmas if it wants to tighten regulations. |
| He has been asking this question repeatedly in recent days without getting an assurance MPs would get a vote. And Javid did not give him one today. He just said there were no plans for further restrictions over the recess. | He has been asking this question repeatedly in recent days without getting an assurance MPs would get a vote. And Javid did not give him one today. He just said there were no plans for further restrictions over the recess. |
| The i’s Paul Waugh says that, judging by Sajid Javid’s comments in this statement, now seems keen to argue that the plan for Covid passes, or passports, isn’t really about these documents at all. | The i’s Paul Waugh says that, judging by Sajid Javid’s comments in this statement, now seems keen to argue that the plan for Covid passes, or passports, isn’t really about these documents at all. |
| Iain Duncan Smith (Con) asked if the government would get rid of the rule requiring people to wait in a clinic for 15 minutes after getting a Pfizer or Moderna jab. (See 3.37pm.) Javid said this was being “very actively looked at” and an announcement would be coming soon. | Iain Duncan Smith (Con) asked if the government would get rid of the rule requiring people to wait in a clinic for 15 minutes after getting a Pfizer or Moderna jab. (See 3.37pm.) Javid said this was being “very actively looked at” and an announcement would be coming soon. |
| In his opening statement Sajid Javid also announced that once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get a booster, the Covid pass rules will change so that only people who have had the booster count as fully vaccinated | In his opening statement Sajid Javid also announced that once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get a booster, the Covid pass rules will change so that only people who have had the booster count as fully vaccinated |
| That means early in the new year, presumably, given the govrenment wants all adults to have the chance to get a booster before the end of the month. | That means early in the new year, presumably, given the govrenment wants all adults to have the chance to get a booster before the end of the month. |
| The Labour MP Ben Bradshaw says almost all Tory MPs in the chamber this afternoon are wearing a mask. | The Labour MP Ben Bradshaw says almost all Tory MPs in the chamber this afternoon are wearing a mask. |
| At the afternoon lobby briefing Downing Street indicated schools in England would only be closed in “the direst ... emergency”. | At the afternoon lobby briefing Downing Street indicated schools in England would only be closed in “the direst ... emergency”. |
| The PM’s spokesman said: | The PM’s spokesman said: |
| Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said that Labour supported the target of getting vaccinations up to 1m per day. He said this may prove impossible, “but we applaud the ambition”. He went on: | Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said that Labour supported the target of getting vaccinations up to 1m per day. He said this may prove impossible, “but we applaud the ambition”. He went on: |
| But he suggested Javid was “living on a different planet” if he thought lateral flow tests were easily available. | But he suggested Javid was “living on a different planet” if he thought lateral flow tests were easily available. |
| And he ended with what he said were words aimed directly at members of the public. He said: | And he ended with what he said were words aimed directly at members of the public. He said: |
| Javid says we have also learned that a booster jab provides strong protection against Omicron. | Javid says we have also learned that a booster jab provides strong protection against Omicron. |
| He repeats what Boris Johnson announced last night about the booster rollout being speeded up. To meet the target of every adult getting a booster, vaccinations will have to take rate at a much faster rate than before. | He repeats what Boris Johnson announced last night about the booster rollout being speeded up. To meet the target of every adult getting a booster, vaccinations will have to take rate at a much faster rate than before. |
| He says people who have had Covid recently should wait 28 days until after their infection before getting the booster. | He says people who have had Covid recently should wait 28 days until after their infection before getting the booster. |
| He confirms that non-urgent medical appointment are being postponed. | He confirms that non-urgent medical appointment are being postponed. |
| He says MPs are voting on the new restrictions tomorrow. | He says MPs are voting on the new restrictions tomorrow. |
| And he says from tomorrow a fully-vaccinated contact of an Omicron case will be able to take a lateral flow test every day, instead of having to self-isolate. | And he says from tomorrow a fully-vaccinated contact of an Omicron case will be able to take a lateral flow test every day, instead of having to self-isolate. |
| He says the Covid pass for international travel will be rolled out for 12- to 15-year-olds. | He says the Covid pass for international travel will be rolled out for 12- to 15-year-olds. |
| And he says, “with a heavy heart”, the government is limiting visits to people in care homes to just three nominated visitors, not including nominated care-givers. | And he says, “with a heavy heart”, the government is limiting visits to people in care homes to just three nominated visitors, not including nominated care-givers. |
| Sajid Javid says no variant has spread as fast as Omicron. | Sajid Javid says no variant has spread as fast as Omicron. |
| He says that infections are estimated to currently be running at 200,000 per day. | He says that infections are estimated to currently be running at 200,000 per day. |
| Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, starts by expressing his disappointment that Boris Johnson is not making this statement himself. | Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, starts by expressing his disappointment that Boris Johnson is not making this statement himself. |
| He says given the PM made a TV statement last night he should have been here in person. | He says given the PM made a TV statement last night he should have been here in person. |
| He says he is really, really disappointed TV is taking precedence over the Commons. | He says he is really, really disappointed TV is taking precedence over the Commons. |
| UPDATE: Hoyle said: | UPDATE: Hoyle said: |
| Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is about to make a statement to MPs about Covid. | Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is about to make a statement to MPs about Covid. |