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Covid news live: Boris Johnson to face MPs over lockdown party claims; Germany sets new daily case record Covid news live: Boris Johnson to face MPs over lockdown party claims; Germany sets new daily case record
(32 minutes later)
Furious Tory MPs call on PM to confess he attended rule-breaking party in Downing Street; Germany reports more than 80,000 new casesFurious Tory MPs call on PM to confess he attended rule-breaking party in Downing Street; Germany reports more than 80,000 new cases
World Health Organization experts have warned that repeating booster doses of the original Covid vaccines is not a viable strategy against emerging variants. Germany has reported more than 80,000 new daily Covid-19 infections, marking a new daily record.
the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Covid-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-Co-VAC) said: A total of 80,430 coronavirus cases and 384 deaths were recorded for Tuesday, according to figures from the Robert Koch Institute.
The group said there could be a need to update the existing vaccines to better target emerging Covid variants such as Omicron and called for the development of new jabs that not only protect people who contract Covid against falling seriously ill but also better prevent people from catching the virus in the first place. In Norway, the country also set a new daily record with 9,622 new infections registered in the last 24 hours, This is 3,000 cases more than the average of the previous seven days (6,622), local media reports.
It also suggested that vaccine developers should strive to create jabs that “elicit immune responses that are broad, strong, and long-lasting in order to reduce the need for successive booster doses”. And a big thank you to very alert reader Francisco Javier Torres Tobar who brought these figures to my attention.
Until new vaccines have been developed, the group said, “the composition of current Covid-19 vaccines may need to be updated”. There’s a flurry of tweets from political journalists that Labour leader Keir Starmer has tested negative again for Covid this morning and so will be in parliament to face Boris Johnson at PMQs.
According to the WHO, 331 candidate vaccines are currently being worked on around the world. Assuming Boris Johnson also attends, of course …
As I mentioned earlier, this morning’s Covid UK news has been rather more about the politics of the pandemic than the actual disease itself, although PA Media have highlighted today a recent blog post by Dr Richard Cree, an intensive care consultant at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, which has an optimistic outlook that he country can “ride out the Omicron wave”. He writes:
While stressing that people would still die from Covid during this phase of the pandemic, he also said:
Here’s a little bit more from Angela Rayner, the Labour deputy leader in the UK, being interviewed on Sky News. She said:
Hungary’s daily tally of new Covid-19 cases has risen to 7,883, up from 5,270 reported a week earlier, but the number of patients treated in hospital declined over the week, the government has said.
The government said 29% of the new infections were caused by the Omicron variant, although Krisztina Than reports for Reuters that some private labs have reported much higher figures.
Away from UK political shenanigans for a moment, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has left isolation just over a week after testing positive for Covid without symptoms, the government has said.
“His medical team has assessed his health status and subsequently cleared him because he continues to have no Covid associated symptoms,” government spokesman John-Thomas Dipowe said.
Reuters report that new coronavirus infections have risen in the southern African country since the detection of the Omicron variant late last year, from fewer than 300 every three days before Omicron to an average of more than 2,500.
But health officials say there has not been a feared surge in hospitalisations. Botswana has fully vaccinated nearly three quarters of its eligible population of around 1.3 million people.
The suggestion doing the rounds from journalists on Twitter is that we should have been enjoying the company of transport secretary Grant Shapps this morning. The government has instead opted not to put a minister forward.The suggestion doing the rounds from journalists on Twitter is that we should have been enjoying the company of transport secretary Grant Shapps this morning. The government has instead opted not to put a minister forward.
Here’s more from Angela Rayner on Sky News. Labour’s deputy leader said:Here’s more from Angela Rayner on Sky News. Labour’s deputy leader said:
Some speculation from political journalist Paul Waugh here about how Boris Johnson might attempt to defuse the situation today.Some speculation from political journalist Paul Waugh here about how Boris Johnson might attempt to defuse the situation today.
Here are some of the early quotes from Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner on Sky News. She said:Here are some of the early quotes from Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner on Sky News. She said:
She said that Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, had tested negative for Covid yesterday, and so, provided he tested negative again this morning, would be taking PMQs against Boris Johnson rather than her.She said that Keir Starmer, Labour’s leader, had tested negative for Covid yesterday, and so, provided he tested negative again this morning, would be taking PMQs against Boris Johnson rather than her.
There’s been a rather weird interlude on Sky News in the UK where they were trying to interview a part-time GP Fui Mee Queck who wanted to explain why she didn’t want to take the vaccine, but she appeared to cut the interview abruptly short over the line of questioning that Kay Burley was taking. So they then immediately went to an improvised sofa chat with Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner, who started talking about the British prime minister’s failure to come clean over 10 Downing Street parties as “shameful”. I’ll have some quotes from that in due course.There’s been a rather weird interlude on Sky News in the UK where they were trying to interview a part-time GP Fui Mee Queck who wanted to explain why she didn’t want to take the vaccine, but she appeared to cut the interview abruptly short over the line of questioning that Kay Burley was taking. So they then immediately went to an improvised sofa chat with Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner, who started talking about the British prime minister’s failure to come clean over 10 Downing Street parties as “shameful”. I’ll have some quotes from that in due course.
In the UK, the opposition Labour deputy leader has said Boris Johnson’s position would be “untenable” if it is proved that he had attended parties in contravention to lockdown rules.In the UK, the opposition Labour deputy leader has said Boris Johnson’s position would be “untenable” if it is proved that he had attended parties in contravention to lockdown rules.
Angela Rayner told BBC Breakfast: “It is very simple for me, I’ve been asking the prime minister for the last couple of days, you just have to say, were you at this party or not on 20 May?”Angela Rayner told BBC Breakfast: “It is very simple for me, I’ve been asking the prime minister for the last couple of days, you just have to say, were you at this party or not on 20 May?”
“He can clear this up very quickly and he has refused to do so, so far, and he has really undermined the office of prime minister by letting this carry on and continue because he refuses to tell the British public what they deserve to hear, and that’s whether or not he broke the lockdown rules and whether he was at this party or not.”“He can clear this up very quickly and he has refused to do so, so far, and he has really undermined the office of prime minister by letting this carry on and continue because he refuses to tell the British public what they deserve to hear, and that’s whether or not he broke the lockdown rules and whether he was at this party or not.”
Asked whether Labour would call for Johnson to resign, Rayner said: “Boris Johnson has to account for his actions and the ministerial code is very clear that if he has misled Parliament and he has not abided by that code, then he should go.”Asked whether Labour would call for Johnson to resign, Rayner said: “Boris Johnson has to account for his actions and the ministerial code is very clear that if he has misled Parliament and he has not abided by that code, then he should go.”
She added that if it proved he had “lied to the British public, lied to parliament and he has attended parties during lockdown, then his position is untenable”.She added that if it proved he had “lied to the British public, lied to parliament and he has attended parties during lockdown, then his position is untenable”.
In Australia, state and territory leaders will consider relaxing isolation requirements for the trucking and logistics sector, as the prime minister, Scott Morrison, calls for patience over the country’s disrupted supply chains.In Australia, state and territory leaders will consider relaxing isolation requirements for the trucking and logistics sector, as the prime minister, Scott Morrison, calls for patience over the country’s disrupted supply chains.
With estimates from industry that between 20% and 50% of the transport and logistics workforce is currently out of action as a result of Covid exposure, the government is also pushing for national cabinet to agree to scrap testing requirements for border crossings.With estimates from industry that between 20% and 50% of the transport and logistics workforce is currently out of action as a result of Covid exposure, the government is also pushing for national cabinet to agree to scrap testing requirements for border crossings.
The federal government is also set to allow international students to work more than 40 hours a fortnight in affected sectors, in an attempt to ease workforce pressures in critical industries.The federal government is also set to allow international students to work more than 40 hours a fortnight in affected sectors, in an attempt to ease workforce pressures in critical industries.
After urgent talks with industry groups and unions on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Morrison convened a meeting of the national coordinating mechanism on Wednesday, which was also attended by senior ministers and the heads of the infrastructure, treasury and health departments.After urgent talks with industry groups and unions on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Morrison convened a meeting of the national coordinating mechanism on Wednesday, which was also attended by senior ministers and the heads of the infrastructure, treasury and health departments.
Morrison said that the challenge being posed by escalating case numbers linked to the Omicron outbreak was “keeping things moving”.Morrison said that the challenge being posed by escalating case numbers linked to the Omicron outbreak was “keeping things moving”.
“That’s what riding this wave of Covid means, and of course … with so many cases appearing every day and that expected to continue until its peak, this will have an obvious impact right across our supply chains,” he said.“That’s what riding this wave of Covid means, and of course … with so many cases appearing every day and that expected to continue until its peak, this will have an obvious impact right across our supply chains,” he said.
Read more of Sarah Martin’s report: Isolation rules may be relaxed for transport workers as Scott Morrison asks for patience on shortagesRead more of Sarah Martin’s report: Isolation rules may be relaxed for transport workers as Scott Morrison asks for patience on shortages
A very quick snap from Reuters here, that Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare ministry has said it had confirmed the Central Asian nation’s first cases of the Omicron variant.A very quick snap from Reuters here, that Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare ministry has said it had confirmed the Central Asian nation’s first cases of the Omicron variant.
PA Media are carrying some slightly more detailed quotes from Conservative MP Huw Merriman on the BBC’s Today programme. Here’s what he said:
As a reminder, we aren’t expecting to hear from any UK government minister this morning – none appear to have been willing or been selected to do any media appearances.
Last time the government was in this sort of mess – when the video emerged showing No 10 aides laughing about a Christmas party during Covid restrictions – it was Sajid Javid who cancelled his appearances, later saying the “upsetting” video was a factor.
The front pages of newspapers in the UK make grim reading for Boris Johnson and his government this morning. And even the New York Times strikes a slightly exasperated tone over the story. Their daily briefing newsletter this morning includes this snippet:
Before the emergence of the Omicron variant, one of the main areas of interest of the pandemic was the rising case numbers in eastern Europe. That story became kind of subsumed into the broader Omicron wave. Yesterday coronavirus infections in Bulgaria reached a record high of 7,062, largely fuelled by Omicron.
Reuters report the virus has killed 89 people in the past 24 hours in the Balkan country, according to official figures, bringing the total death toll to 31,761.
More than 5,200 people were in hospitals, including 580 in intensive care. In the capital, Sofia, planned operations have been suspended as hospitals prepared to expand wards for Covid-19 patients.
At present, Bulgarians have to wear masks indoors and on public transport and show a health pass, given to people who are vaccinated, recovered or who have tested negative for the virus, to get into restaurants, cafes and shopping malls and gyms.
A new government that took office last month has appealed to vaccine-sceptic Bulgarians to get inoculated and offered a one-time cash reward of 75 levis ($43.50 USD/£32 GBP) to pensioners who opt to get fully vaccinated or take a booster.
In an attempt to lead by example, lawmakers voted to make the health pass mandatory for entry to parliament from 24 January.
There’s been a whisper of defence for the embattled British prime minister on Radio 4 this morning from at least one Conservative MP, Huw Merriman.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has already been on the airwaves in the UK, and he has called directly for the British prime minister Boris Johnson to resign. He told BBC Breakfast:
Hello from London, it is Martin Belam here taking over from Samantha Lock. I suspect that the morning media round in the UK is going to offer us a lot more heat about Boris Johnson and lockdown parties than it is going to offer light about the current status of Covid in the country. I’ll bring you the key lines from those TV and radio interviews as they emerge. As far as I can tell, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner will be appearing, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford will be doing the rounds, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has already been on, but Sky News say that the government has put no minister forward to face questions this morning.
Returning briefly to the unfolding Djokovic saga, Guardian reporter Paul Karp has written a handy timeline covering the tennis star’s diagnosis and movements before his travel to Australia.
What did Djokovic say before arrival in Australia?
On 1 January, Djokovic’s agent submitted an Australian travel declaration on his behalf, declaring “no” when asked: “Have you travelled or will you travel in the 14 days prior to your flight to Australia?”
Djokovic had obtained an exemption to vaccination requirements from the Tennis Australia chief medical officer, approved by a Victorian government independent review board, stating that he had received a positive PCR test to Covid-19 “recorded on” 16 December.
What did Djokovic say in court documents?
Djokovic’s affidavit to the federal circuit court challenging his visa cancellation set out this timeline:
18 November – the Australian government granted him a visa
16 December – he “was tested and diagnosed with Sars-CoV-2”
22 December – his second PCR test returned a negative result
1 January – he authorised his agent to submit his travel declaration
2 January – he received a border travel permit from the Victorian government
4 January – he flew from Spain to Melbourne via Dubai
5 January 11.30pm – he arrived in Melbourne
6 January – his visa was cancelled
Read the full timeline here.
World Health Organization experts have warned that repeating booster doses of the original Covid vaccines is not a viable strategy against emerging variants.
One in seven people who have tested positive for Covid could still be infectious if released from isolation upon receiving a negative lateral flow result after five days, new data suggests.
More than half of people in Europe could contract the Omicron in the next two months if infections continue at current rates, the WHO added.
UK former health secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for Covid after contracting the virus for a second time.
Novak Djokovic has blamed his agent for an “administrative mistake” when declaring he had not travelled in the two weeks before his flight to Australia and acknowledged an “error of judgment” by not isolating after he tested positive for Covid.
India recorded 194,720 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the most since late May, health ministry data showed.
Germany has reported 80,430 coronavirus cases - a new daily record - and 384 deaths, according to figures from the Robert Koch Institute.
Indonesia kicked off its Covid-19 booster campaign for the general public, prioritising third shots for the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
New Zealand’s navy has conducted an unusual mercy mission to retrieve two people stranded in Singapore for 18 months due to Covid-19.
Colombia is set to reduce the waiting period for a Covid-19 booster vaccine from six to four months, president Ivan Duque has said.
The Chinese city of Tianjin has started a new round of Covid-19 testing today among its 14 million residents to block the spread of Omicron.
Quebec, Canada’s second-most populous province, has announced plans to impose a ‘health tax’ on residents who refuse to get the Covid-19 vaccination for non-medical reasons.
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic, with surging Omicron infections leading to staff shortages that have disrupted supply chains and hampered the economy’s recovery.
People in NSW, Australia are to report all positive rapid antigen test (RAT) or face a $1,000 fine.
One in seven people who have tested positive for Covid could still be infectious if released from isolation upon receiving a negative lateral flow result after five days, new data suggests.
Across the UK people are now allowed to leave self-isolation on day seven, provided they have had two negative lateral flow tests in the past 24 hours and do not have a fever.
However, the prime minister has indicated he is in favour of further reducing the quarantine time to five days, if backed by scientific evidence. Experts have cautioned there is presently little data to back the move.
According to work previously released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the proportion of people estimated to remain infectious five days after the onset of Covid symptoms, or a positive Covid test, is 31%. A small Japanese study has similarly suggested a substantial proportion of those infected with the Omicron variant remain infectious at five days.
Read the full story here.
Novak Djokovic has blamed his agent for an “administrative mistake” when declaring he had not travelled in the two weeks before his flight to Australia and acknowledged an “error of judgment” by not isolating after he tested positive for Covid.
The world No 1 released a statement on Wednesday in a bid to address what he called “continuing misinformation” about his activities in December before he came to Australia in a bid to retain his Australian Open crown.
But Djokovic’s statement, posted to Instagram, did not address reports by Der Spiegel claiming apparent anomalies with his 16 December PCR test result. The reporting has raised questions about the positive Covid diagnosis that forms the basis of his exemption to travel to Australia.
Wednesday’s statement claims he wasn’t notified of his positive result until 17 December despite Djokovic’s affidavit to the federal circuit court that he was both “tested and diagnosed” on 16 December.
Read the full story here.