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Covid: UK incomparably better placed this New Year - PM Covid: UK incomparably better placed this New Year - PM
(about 3 hours 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 because of 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 because of 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
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 as the more infectious Omicron variant drives up cases.
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, but a number of events have been cancelled, including the traditional Trafalgar Square party 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. Amid the warnings that people should celebrate outdoors or in well-ventilated places where possible, the Met Office said the UK was experiencing the hottest New Year's Eve on record - with Coningsby in Lincolnshire recording a temperature of 15.3 degrees.
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. 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.
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 Omicron.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have said they have met the booster target. More than 90% of the UK population aged 12 and over have now received a first dose of a vaccine, they added.
The Department of Health also announced more than 90% of the UK population aged 12 and over had received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also said they had met the booster target.
Speaking in a message posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson said "incredible" numbers of people had responded to the call to get vaccinated, adding: "It's precisely because of that huge national effort that we can celebrate tonight at all."Speaking in a message posted on Twitter, Mr Johnson said "incredible" numbers of people had responded to the call to get vaccinated, adding: "It's precisely because of that huge national effort that we can celebrate tonight at all."
However, he said people must be cautious and take a test and "remember the importance of ventilation" if they are going out, urging people who are not fully vaccinated to "look at the people going into hospital now" and to "make it your new year's resolution" to get jabbed. However, he said people must be cautious, take a test and "remember the importance of ventilation" if they are going out, urging those who are not fully vaccinated to "look at the people going into hospital now" 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 - to about 58% of those eligible - 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 - to about 58% of those eligible - including 1.8 million in the past seven days.
Labour's 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 NHS' success administering an "unprecedented number of vaccinations".Labour's 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 NHS' success administering an "unprecedented number of vaccinations".
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)
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."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."
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."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."
Chris Hopson, the head of NHS Providers, which represents health trusts, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme more restrictions to curb the spread of the virus "may be needed at pace if the evidence warrants it".Chris Hopson, the head of NHS Providers, which represents health trusts, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme more restrictions to curb the spread of the virus "may be needed at pace if the evidence warrants it".
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.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.
An average of 25,273 staff in acute trusts in England were absent every day because of Covid in the week ending 26 December, the latest data shows. This represents about 3% of the heath service's staff and is up by 42% on the 18,829 recorded in the previous seven days.
On Thursday 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.
Health secretary Sajid Javid has said he expects the government will need to "constrain" supply of rapid tests for two weeks to manage surging demand, but confirmed the number was being tripled in January and February to 300 million a month.
National Pharmacy Association chairman Andrew Lane told BBC Breakfast on Friday pharmacies were starting to see 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" had not been in vain, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he hoped 2022 would be "the year we will finally beat Covid".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" had not been in vain, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he hoped 2022 would be "the year we will finally beat Covid".
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. In other developments:
An antiviral pill to treat Covid - Paxlovid - has been approved for use across the UK, the medicines regulator says
An average of 25,273 staff in acute trusts in England were absent each day because of Covid in the week ending 26 December, up by 42% on the previous seven days
There have been calls for NHS staff to be given priority for lateral flow tests from healthcare unions
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the government expects to need to "constrain" supply of the rapid tests for two weeks to manage demand, but the number is being tripled to 300 million a month
A representative of pharmacists has said lateral flows kits are beginning to arrive but supply is "still patchy"
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 which includes a backlog of hospital deaths from 24 to 29 December
What are your New Year's Eve plans? Will you be going ahead or have you cancelled your plans? Tell us your story by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.What are your New Year's Eve plans? Will you be going ahead or have you cancelled your plans? Tell us your story by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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