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Covid: UK incomparably better placed this New Year - PM Covid: UK incomparably better placed this New Year - PM
(about 1 hour later)
The UK is in an "incomparably better" position now than this time last year but New Year's Eve revellers should remain cautious, the PM has said.The UK is in an "incomparably better" position now than this time last year but New Year's Eve revellers should remain cautious, the PM has said.
In a year-end message, Boris Johnson hailed the "heroic" vaccination effort, adding that all adults in England had now been offered a booster jab.In a year-end message, Boris Johnson hailed the "heroic" vaccination effort, adding that all adults in England had now been offered a booster jab.
But he warned of the "challenges" of Omicron and rising hospital admissions.But he warned of the "challenges" of Omicron and rising hospital admissions.
The PM urged people who go out later to take a Covid test first and "remember the importance of ventilation".The PM urged people who go out later to take a Covid test first and "remember the importance of ventilation".
It comes as UK daily Covid cases reached another record high of 189,213 on Thursday - including two days of data from Wales due to reporting backlogs over Christmas.It comes as UK daily Covid cases reached another record high of 189,213 on Thursday - including two days of data from Wales due to reporting backlogs over Christmas.
How many people can get together at New Year?How many people can get together at New Year?
How can I tell I have Omicron?How can I tell I have Omicron?
Calls for NHS staff priority for rapid Covid testsCalls for NHS staff priority for rapid Covid tests
NHS preps Nightingale surge hubs as Covid soars
New Year's Eve celebrations are set to be scaled back across much of the country.New Year's Eve celebrations are set to be scaled back across much of the country.
Mr Johnson resisted calls to impose new regulations in England in the run-up to Christmas in response to the more infectious Omicron variant. But a number of events have been cancelled, including the traditional Trafalgar Square party and fireworks in London.Mr Johnson resisted calls to impose new regulations in England in the run-up to Christmas in response to the more infectious Omicron variant. But a number of events have been cancelled, including the traditional Trafalgar Square party and fireworks in London.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tighter rules are now in place for pubs, bars and restaurants and there are restrictions on the number of people who can gather.Meanwhile, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland tighter rules are now in place for pubs, bars and restaurants and there are restrictions on the number of people who can gather.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay events have been cancelled, while Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has asked those travelling to England to see in the new year to "think consciously and carefully" about their plans.Edinburgh's Hogmanay events have been cancelled, while Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has asked those travelling to England to see in the new year to "think consciously and carefully" about their plans.
Northern Ireland's new reduced self-isolation rules allowing people with Covid to be released after seven days if they test negative twice on days six and seven, have come into force.Northern Ireland's new reduced self-isolation rules allowing people with Covid to be released after seven days if they test negative twice on days six and seven, have come into force.
Jab resolutionJab resolution
The Department of Health and Social Care said it had met the goal set by the prime minister on 12 December to ensure all eligible adults in England had been offered a Covid booster by 31 December. The target was brought forward by a month in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant.The Department of Health and Social Care said it had met the goal set by the prime minister on 12 December to ensure all eligible adults in England had been offered a Covid booster by 31 December. The target was brought forward by a month in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said they have met the booster target.Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said they have met the booster target.
The Department of Health also announced that over 90% of the UK population aged 12 and over had received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The Department of Health also announced that more than 90% of the UK population aged 12 and over had received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Speaking in a message that will be posted on social media later, Mr Johnson said "incredible" numbers of people had responded to the call to get vaccinated. Speaking in a message posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson said "incredible" numbers of people had responded to the call to get vaccinated.
He added: "It's precisely because of that huge national effort that we can celebrate tonight at all. Though I must of course urge everyone to be cautious and to take a test if you are going out and to remember the importance of ventilation. Follow the rules if you are in Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland."He added: "It's precisely because of that huge national effort that we can celebrate tonight at all. Though I must of course urge everyone to be cautious and to take a test if you are going out and to remember the importance of ventilation. Follow the rules if you are in Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland."
Mr Johnson also urged people who are not fully vaccinated to "look at the people going into hospital now, that could be you" and to "make it your new year's resolution" to get jabbed.Mr Johnson also urged people who are not fully vaccinated to "look at the people going into hospital now, that could be you" and to "make it your new year's resolution" to get jabbed.
More than 33.5 million booster and third doses have now been delivered in the UK, including 1.8 million in the past seven days.More than 33.5 million booster and third doses have now been delivered in the UK, including 1.8 million in the past seven days.
The prime minister said this meant seven in 10 eligible adults in England had received boosters, and an extra eight million vaccines had been delivered since the target to offer all eligible over-18s a booster was bought forward.The prime minister said this meant seven in 10 eligible adults in England had received boosters, and an extra eight million vaccines had been delivered since the target to offer all eligible over-18s a booster was bought forward.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid thanked the public, NHS staff, volunteers and the armed forces "who have made it possible for us to meet the booster target".Health Secretary Sajid Javid thanked the public, NHS staff, volunteers and the armed forces "who have made it possible for us to meet the booster target".
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting suggested the prime minister had "shifted the goalposts on what he actually promised to deliver" in the rollout, but added "this should not detract one bit from the fact that the NHS has pulled off an unprecedented number of vaccinations in recent weeks".Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting suggested the prime minister had "shifted the goalposts on what he actually promised to deliver" in the rollout, but added "this should not detract one bit from the fact that the NHS has pulled off an unprecedented number of vaccinations in recent weeks".
UK's latest daily Covid figuresUK's latest daily Covid figures
Cases: 189,213 (weekly total up 45.1%)Cases: 189,213 (weekly total up 45.1%)
Deaths: 332 (weekly total down 10.6%)Deaths: 332 (weekly total down 10.6%)
People in hospital: 11,898People in hospital: 11,898
Boosters and third doses: 435,293Boosters and third doses: 435,293
Source: UK government (cases and deaths reported on 30 December, hospital and vaccination figures for 29 December)Source: UK government (cases and deaths reported on 30 December, hospital and vaccination figures for 29 December)
The NHS Confederation, which represents health and care leaders, said it was "encouraging" to see so many people coming forward for a booster jab, but it had heard from some vaccination centres that as many of 40% of booked appointments were resulting in no-shows. Prof Peter Openshaw, who sits on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), told BBC Breakfast he was concerned about the impact of surging Covid cases on the health service, saying: "I think we haven't quite reached the threshold that was set by government in terms of the NHS being overwhelmed, but it looks like that will be reached quite quickly."
This could be because people had gone to walk-in centres instead, or contracted Covid and could not attend. He said: "The people currently who are very sadly dying of Covid were probably infected on average about 35 days ago, so this was really before Omicron really started to transmit."
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor added: "Cases of Omicron are rising rapidly... Health leaders are worried about the level of illness and demand that their staff across the NHS could have to respond to in January, and so it is vital that everyone who is eligible takes up the offer of a jab or booster shot." The Imperial College London immunologist added that people should be cautious at New Year's Eve celebrations, as Omicron was so transmissible that it "needs just a whiff of infected breath and you could get infected".
It comes as the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing unions called for NHS staff to be given priority for accessing lateral flow Covid-19 tests amid concerns supply problems were leading to staffing issues. Chris Hopson, the head of NHS Providers which represents health trusts, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that more restrictions to curb the spread of the virus "may be needed at pace if the evidence warrants it".
The health secretary said on Thursday he expects the government will need to "constrain" supply of rapid tests for two weeks to manage surging demand, but confirmed the supply of lateral flow tests in the UK was being tripled in January and February to 300 million a month. The Welsh government has loaned the UK government four million lateral flow tests for use in England. He added the use of extra "Nightingale capacity hubs" being set up at hospitals could only be staffed by asking recently retired health workers and experienced volunteers to help out.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Friday, National Pharmacy Association chairman Andrew Lane said pharmacies were starting to see supplies of tests arrive, but added supply was "still very patchy" and he expected packs to be gone "within the first few hours" of delivery. NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said it was vital everyone eligible got a booster amid rapidly rising cases, saying health leaders were worried about the "level of illness and demand" their staff could be facing in January.
Meanwhile, a further 332 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded in the UK on Thursday - the highest figure since 2 March. But the number of deaths includes a backlog of hospital deaths reported overnight by NHS England covering the period from 24 to 29 December. It comes as the British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing unions called for NHS staff to be given priority for accessing lateral flow Covid-19 tests, amid concerns supply problems are leading to staffing issues.
The health secretary has said he expects the government will need to "constrain" supply of rapid tests for two weeks to manage surging demand, but confirmed the supply of lateral flow tests in the UK was being tripled in January and February to 300 million a month. The Welsh government has loaned the UK government four million lateral flow tests for use in England.
National Pharmacy Association chairman Andrew Lane told BBC Breakfast on Friday that pharmacies were starting to see supplies of tests arrive, but added supply was "still very patchy" and he expected packs to be gone "within the first few hours" of delivery.
In his new year message, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK needed leadership to ensure the "sacrifices and pain of the past two years of the pandemic" had not been in vain. He pledged to bring forward a plan to offer security and prosperity to voters.In his new year message, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK needed leadership to ensure the "sacrifices and pain of the past two years of the pandemic" had not been in vain. He pledged to bring forward a plan to offer security and prosperity to voters.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he hoped 2022 would be "the year we will finally beat Covid", adding that the British people had shown remarkable courage and resilience during the pandemic.Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he hoped 2022 would be "the year we will finally beat Covid", adding that the British people had shown remarkable courage and resilience during the pandemic.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said New Year's Eve was "not the Hogmanay" people wanted, but they could look forward to a "better and brighter new year ahead".Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said New Year's Eve was "not the Hogmanay" people wanted, but they could look forward to a "better and brighter new year ahead".
A further 332 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded in the UK on Thursday - the highest figure since 2 March. But the number of deaths includes a backlog of hospital deaths reported overnight by NHS England covering the period from 24 to 29 December.
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