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| UK Covid live: NHS website overwhelmed by booster demand and runs out of lateral flow tests in England | UK Covid live: NHS website overwhelmed by booster demand and runs out of lateral flow tests in England |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: NHS website unable to meet demand for boosters while its website also suggests no LFTs are currently available | Latest updates: NHS website unable to meet demand for boosters while its website also suggests no LFTs are currently available |
| As expected, Sajid Javid, the health secretary, will make a statement to MPs this afternoon. | |
| Boris Johnson has confirmed that at least one patient in the UK has now died with the Omicron variant. In an interview during a visit to a vaccination centre in London, he said: | |
| I will post more from his interview shortly. | |
| Earlier Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said around 10 people were in hospital with confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in England. (See 9.31am.) | |
| Paul Givan, the Northern Ireland first minister, has said Northern Ireland must prepare for a “storm” of Omicron cases. He told BBC Radio Ulster: | |
| As PA Media reports, Northern Ireland’s Covid certification scheme became legally enforceable today. The scheme requiring people to prove Covid status to gain entry to a range of hospitality venues and larges attendance events was introduced late last month with a two-week grace period to allow businesses adjust. Patrons wishing to enter nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises will need proof of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test or evidence of a previous Covid-19 infection. | |
| On Friday the UK Health Security Agency released a report (pdf) saying that 41% of Covid cases in London were Omicron. That was was double the rate for the region with the next highest Omicron levels, the south-east, where they accounted for 21% of cases. But those figures were from 6 December. Given the doubling rate of Omicron, it is now thought to be dominant in London. | |
| Here is my colleague Jamie Grierson’s story about lateral flow tests not being available for order on the government website in England. | |
| ITV’s Paul Brand says the Met is still not planning to investigate parties as No 10, despite the picture published yesterday of Boris Johnson taking part in a quiz night. | |
| Here is the Met statement on this from last week. | Here is the Met statement on this from last week. |
| Boris Johnson’s TV address to the nation last night was watched by more than 12 million people, Darren McCaffrey from GB News reports. | Boris Johnson’s TV address to the nation last night was watched by more than 12 million people, Darren McCaffrey from GB News reports. |
| BBC One will broadcast a pre-recorded address to the nation from Keir Starmer at 7pm in response to Boris Johnson’s own remarks on coronavirus booster vaccines, Labour has said. | BBC One will broadcast a pre-recorded address to the nation from Keir Starmer at 7pm in response to Boris Johnson’s own remarks on coronavirus booster vaccines, Labour has said. |
| Today is the first day that people aged 30 to 39 can officially book a booster jab in England. Although the website has been overwhelmed (see 10.46am), NHS Digital says more than 140,000 people have managed to book vaccine appointments this morning. | Today is the first day that people aged 30 to 39 can officially book a booster jab in England. Although the website has been overwhelmed (see 10.46am), NHS Digital says more than 140,000 people have managed to book vaccine appointments this morning. |
| James Fransham from the Economist thinks it was unrealistic of Boris Johnson to offer all adults in England a booster jab by the end of the year. He explains why in a Twitter thread starting here. | James Fransham from the Economist thinks it was unrealistic of Boris Johnson to offer all adults in England a booster jab by the end of the year. He explains why in a Twitter thread starting here. |
| And some people in England are also finding it impossible to order lateral flow tests through the NHS website. This is what showed up when I tried just a few minutes ago. | And some people in England are also finding it impossible to order lateral flow tests through the NHS website. This is what showed up when I tried just a few minutes ago. |
| Following Boris Johnson’s announcement last night, the NHS in England is being overwhelmed by people trying to book a booster appointment online. A reader has sent me this screenshot telling them there were number 3472 in the queue. | Following Boris Johnson’s announcement last night, the NHS in England is being overwhelmed by people trying to book a booster appointment online. A reader has sent me this screenshot telling them there were number 3472 in the queue. |
| The NHS is now advising people, on Twitter, to try again later, or tomorrow. | The NHS is now advising people, on Twitter, to try again later, or tomorrow. |
| Tomorrow MPs will vote on the plan B Covid measures for England announced last week. According to the Spectator, which has been keeping probably the most comprehensive tally of likely rebels, there are now 75 Tories who have said they will vote against, or indicated they are likely to. | Tomorrow MPs will vote on the plan B Covid measures for England announced last week. According to the Spectator, which has been keeping probably the most comprehensive tally of likely rebels, there are now 75 Tories who have said they will vote against, or indicated they are likely to. |
| These are from Fraser Nelson, the Spectator editor, with quotes from some of the latest additions to the list. | These are from Fraser Nelson, the Spectator editor, with quotes from some of the latest additions to the list. |
| These figures suggest Johnson is on course for by far the biggest rebellion of this parliament. The previous biggest came on 1 December last year, when 53 Tories voted against the government’s plan for tougher Covid tiering rules for England, with another two Conservatives acting as tellers for the rebels. | These figures suggest Johnson is on course for by far the biggest rebellion of this parliament. The previous biggest came on 1 December last year, when 53 Tories voted against the government’s plan for tougher Covid tiering rules for England, with another two Conservatives acting as tellers for the rebels. |
| And this is what Sajid Javid said in his morning interviews about Boris Johnson and partygate. | And this is what Sajid Javid said in his morning interviews about Boris Johnson and partygate. |
| Javid said he expected Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, to extend his investigation into parties in No 10 to include the participation of Boris Johnnson in a quiz night. Asked about the story, Javid said. | Javid said he expected Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, to extend his investigation into parties in No 10 to include the participation of Boris Johnnson in a quiz night. Asked about the story, Javid said. |
| According to Oliver Wright in the Times (paywall) Case has already decided that the quiz night will be included in his investigation. “[Case] said originally that he would look at credible allegations of other gatherings and you can’t really say that a photo of the prime minister is not a credible allegation,” a government source told Wright. | According to Oliver Wright in the Times (paywall) Case has already decided that the quiz night will be included in his investigation. “[Case] said originally that he would look at credible allegations of other gatherings and you can’t really say that a photo of the prime minister is not a credible allegation,” a government source told Wright. |
| Javid claimed that Johnons is working “every minute of the day” for the public. Asked if the PM has the right qualities to handle the Covid crisis, Javid said: | Javid claimed that Johnons is working “every minute of the day” for the public. Asked if the PM has the right qualities to handle the Covid crisis, Javid said: |
| This is from Prof Susan Michie, a psychologist who has participated in Sage meetings but who is a leading member of Independent Sage, a group of scientists who have published their own advice to government and who have been critical of the government for not imposing tougher Covid restrictions, responding to what Sajid Javid said about cancer patients this morning. (See 9.01am.) | This is from Prof Susan Michie, a psychologist who has participated in Sage meetings but who is a leading member of Independent Sage, a group of scientists who have published their own advice to government and who have been critical of the government for not imposing tougher Covid restrictions, responding to what Sajid Javid said about cancer patients this morning. (See 9.01am.) |
| Here are some more lines from what Sajid Javid said about Omicron and the booster jabs rollout in his morning interviews. | Here are some more lines from what Sajid Javid said about Omicron and the booster jabs rollout in his morning interviews. |
| Javid, the health secretary, said that he could not confirm that anyone has died from the Omicron variant in England. There are about 10 people in hospital with the variant, he said. But he dismissed claims this meant it was not a threat. “There is always a lag between infection and then hospitalisation and then, sadly, death,” he told Sky News. He also pointed out that a huge rise in infections would lead to more people going to hospital, even if most cases were mild. | Javid, the health secretary, said that he could not confirm that anyone has died from the Omicron variant in England. There are about 10 people in hospital with the variant, he said. But he dismissed claims this meant it was not a threat. “There is always a lag between infection and then hospitalisation and then, sadly, death,” he told Sky News. He also pointed out that a huge rise in infections would lead to more people going to hospital, even if most cases were mild. |
| He refused to rule out schools having to close in response to the Omicron wave. Asked if he could ruled this out, he told LBC that he did not want to see it happen. But he also said: | He refused to rule out schools having to close in response to the Omicron wave. Asked if he could ruled this out, he told LBC that he did not want to see it happen. But he also said: |
| He said it “should not be the case” that people die because they can’t get treatment on the NHS during the Covid booster drive. On Times Radio he was asked: “Will anyone sadly die because they can’t get the treatment they need in the NHS?” Javid replied: | He said it “should not be the case” that people die because they can’t get treatment on the NHS during the Covid booster drive. On Times Radio he was asked: “Will anyone sadly die because they can’t get the treatment they need in the NHS?” Javid replied: |
| He said that he was personally responsible for the success of the booster rollout programme. He was responding to a question on the Today programme about who was in charge given that Maggie Throup, the vaccines minister, does not seem to have the clout of her predecessor, Nadhim Zahawi, who attended cabinet. | He said that he was personally responsible for the success of the booster rollout programme. He was responding to a question on the Today programme about who was in charge given that Maggie Throup, the vaccines minister, does not seem to have the clout of her predecessor, Nadhim Zahawi, who attended cabinet. |
| He said he thought people should go ahead and spend Christmas with family and friends, but that they should be cautious too. He was planning to see family, he said. But he said when he was entertaining friends at home this weekend, he asked them to take a lateral flow test first. | He said he thought people should go ahead and spend Christmas with family and friends, but that they should be cautious too. He was planning to see family, he said. But he said when he was entertaining friends at home this weekend, he asked them to take a lateral flow test first. |
| He said it was “completely unfair” to suggest the AstraZeneca vaccine was not as good as once thought in the light of evidence last week suggesting two doses offer very little protection against Omicron. He said AstraZeneca had “played a phenomenal role in protecting our country”. | He said it was “completely unfair” to suggest the AstraZeneca vaccine was not as good as once thought in the light of evidence last week suggesting two doses offer very little protection against Omicron. He said AstraZeneca had “played a phenomenal role in protecting our country”. |
| Good morning. Boris Johnson has set a target for the government to offer all adults a booster vaccine by the end of the month. Here is our overnight story reporting the announcement. | Good morning. Boris Johnson has set a target for the government to offer all adults a booster vaccine by the end of the month. Here is our overnight story reporting the announcement. |
| This morning Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has been giving broadcast interviews, and he has admitted that, as GPs and hospitals in England focus on this target over the next few weeks, non-urgent appointments will be postponed. He told the Today programme: | This morning Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has been giving broadcast interviews, and he has admitted that, as GPs and hospitals in England focus on this target over the next few weeks, non-urgent appointments will be postponed. He told the Today programme: |
| Javid insisted that this would not affect people wanting to see a doctor about cancer symptoms. That would count as an urgent appointment, he said. | Javid insisted that this would not affect people wanting to see a doctor about cancer symptoms. That would count as an urgent appointment, he said. |
| Asked what hospital appointments might be postponed, Javid replied: | Asked what hospital appointments might be postponed, Javid replied: |
| Javid said these decisions were “not easy”. But there was limited capacity in the NHS. | Javid said these decisions were “not easy”. But there was limited capacity in the NHS. |
| Asked if this would mean people dying who would not have died if these appointments had not been posptponed, Javid said: “What will lead to real harm is if we don’t do this.” | Asked if this would mean people dying who would not have died if these appointments had not been posptponed, Javid said: “What will lead to real harm is if we don’t do this.” |
| I will post more from his interviews shortly. | I will post more from his interviews shortly. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| Morning: Boris Johnson is visiting a vaccination centre, where he is expected to give a TV interview. | Morning: Boris Johnson is visiting a vaccination centre, where he is expected to give a TV interview. |
| 11.30am: Downing Street holds its lobby briefing. | 11.30am: Downing Street holds its lobby briefing. |
| 3.30pm: Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is expected to make a statement to MPs about the vaccine booster programme. | 3.30pm: Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is expected to make a statement to MPs about the vaccine booster programme. |
| 4pm: Antonia Romeo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, gives evidence to the Commons public accounts committee about the courts backlog. | 4pm: Antonia Romeo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, gives evidence to the Commons public accounts committee about the courts backlog. |
| 4.30pm: Max Hill QC, director of public prosecutions, gives evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about rape prosecutions. | 4.30pm: Max Hill QC, director of public prosecutions, gives evidence to the Commons home affairs committee about rape prosecutions. |
| Also today Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will be meeting foreign ministers from the Balkans. | Also today Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, will be meeting foreign ministers from the Balkans. |
| I will be largely focusing on UK Covid-related issues today, but there is much more coverage on our global Covid live blog. | I will be largely focusing on UK Covid-related issues today, but there is much more coverage on our global Covid live blog. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com | Alternatively, you can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com |