[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by arista

Dr. Sarah Jarvis
says the PM has loads of data.
He is stalling the Lockdown

Parliament, could go back on Weds 28th of Dec.

she is mad with him because she thinks doctors work too hard

there is no lockdown to stall

they don't work

[arista]

Chancellor Rishi Sunak
to give an update today

I assume a recorded statement

[bots]

Originally Posted by arista

Chancellor Rishi Sunak
to give an update today

I assume a recorded statement

there will be an open house cheese and wine party at his place on Friday

[arista]

Originally Posted by MeghansLetterToSanta

there will be an open house cheese and wine party at his place on Friday

Nothing to do with him
helping folks

[arista]

The DUP leader
confirms he has Covid-19

[arista]

The London Mayor has cancelled
the Trafalgar Sq New Year's Celebration.

[arista]

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by arista

Terrible time for a re-election tbf

[Crimson Dynamo]

We must stop the perpetual spiral of restrictions

With most of the population double- or even triple-jabbed, we are still having
the same debate as last year.

TELEGRAPH VIEW


The ministerial backlash against new pre-Christmas Covid controls marks a
welcome reassertion of Cabinet government and is a further sign of Boris
Johnson’s waning authority. Urged on by scientific advisers worried about a
January surge, the Prime Minister was minded to order new restrictions. But
he was beaten back by demands from his colleagues that more data be made
available about the trajectory of the omicron variant and the ability of the
NHS to withstand the pressure it is coming under.

A planned news conference at which the new measures were expected to be
announced was cancelled, with Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, among those
unwilling to countenance further damage to the economy without cast-iron
evidence and a coherent exit plan. The resignation of Lord Frost, Mr
Johnson’s closest Cabinet ally, over the prospect of more restrictions proved
to be the writing on the wall following a revolt by 100 backbenchers against
some of the so-called Plan B measures. With the Commons in recess, Mr
Johnson could not this time put his plans to a vote and rely on Labour to get
them through.

Arguably, the Prime Minister has ended up in the worst of all worlds.
Although he was not able to act yesterday, given that the threat of further
restrictions is still hanging over the public, many will be wondering whether
their Christmas plans should go ahead after all.

The alarming, even alarmist, forecast from Sage advisers – that up to 6,000
people could die a day next month – is the worst-case scenario, yet one that
is helping to control interactions of people through fear rather than diktat.
The reliance on models that appear designed to support a particular policy
approach is worrying; and ministers have evidently decided no longer to take
these at face value. They are asking for more of the information that we all
need to make an assessment of risk: how many people in hospital are
unvaccinated, what are their ages and other morbidities, and why are we
panicking when evidence from South Africa suggests this variant is more
benign than delta?

Moreover, there is no need to reach for statutory controls when guidance is
bringing about a similar outcome by changing behaviour. But while this
approach is preferable to using emergency powers, it also needs to be put
into proper perspective otherwise the Government is achieving a lockdown by
stealth.

That may well be the intention. But the consequence is that restaurants,
bars, theatres and other entertainment venues that rely heavily on pre-
Christmas trade to survive in the new year have again been pulverised by
cancelled bookings. Retailers also suffered on what should have been their
busiest weekend of the year, with the number of people on the high street
sharply down.

This is happening not because omicron seems to be especially virulent but
because the NHS faces meltdown as beds fill up and as more and more staff
take time off after they test positive. A critical manpower shortage is looming
that will feed into other key sectors and affect supply chains across the
board. The Government needs to amend the 10-day isolation requirement for
fully vaccinated people, otherwise the country will come to a grinding halt in
a few weeks’ time. This needs to be reduced to seven days at the most or to
end immediately after a negative lateral flow test.

What is extraordinary is that we are enduring precisely the same debate as
last Christmas, though then it was the Kent variant prompting lockdown
demands. Within a few weeks the number of cases soared, peaking at below
the case numbers we are seeing today, though fatalities were much higher.
But there is one fundamental difference between then and now: most people
have been double or even triple jabbed, and the vaccines – particularly with
a booster – are standing up to omicron.

If scientists and NHS chiefs seek to replicate virtually the same measures
that were deemed necessary before a vaccine was available, massive
questions are raised over how this spiral of despair can ever be brought to an
end. Covid is heading towards becoming an endemic disease that
experiences a surge every winter, as happens with all respiratory illnesses,
almost certainly involving more variants. Is this to go on for ever?

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by All The Jingle Ladies

We must stop the perpetual spiral of restrictions

With most of the population double- or even triple-jabbed, we are still having
the same debate as last year.

TELEGRAPH VIEW


The ministerial backlash against new pre-Christmas Covid controls marks a
welcome reassertion of Cabinet government and is a further sign of Boris
Johnson’s waning authority. Urged on by scientific advisers worried about a
January surge, the Prime Minister was minded to order new restrictions. But
he was beaten back by demands from his colleagues that more data be made
available about the trajectory of the omicron variant and the ability of the
NHS to withstand the pressure it is coming under.

A planned news conference at which the new measures were expected to be
announced was cancelled, with Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, among those
unwilling to countenance further damage to the economy without cast-iron
evidence and a coherent exit plan. The resignation of Lord Frost, Mr
Johnson’s closest Cabinet ally, over the prospect of more restrictions proved
to be the writing on the wall following a revolt by 100 backbenchers against
some of the so-called Plan B measures. With the Commons in recess, Mr
Johnson could not this time put his plans to a vote and rely on Labour to get
them through.

Arguably, the Prime Minister has ended up in the worst of all worlds.
Although he was not able to act yesterday, given that the threat of further
restrictions is still hanging over the public, many will be wondering whether
their Christmas plans should go ahead after all.

The alarming, even alarmist, forecast from Sage advisers – that up to 6,000
people could die a day next month – is the worst-case scenario, yet one that
is helping to control interactions of people through fear rather than diktat.
The reliance on models that appear designed to support a particular policy
approach is worrying; and ministers have evidently decided no longer to take
these at face value. They are asking for more of the information that we all
need to make an assessment of risk: how many people in hospital are
unvaccinated, what are their ages and other morbidities, and why are we
panicking when evidence from South Africa suggests this variant is more
benign than delta?

Moreover, there is no need to reach for statutory controls when guidance is
bringing about a similar outcome by changing behaviour. But while this
approach is preferable to using emergency powers, it also needs to be put
into proper perspective otherwise the Government is achieving a lockdown by
stealth.

That may well be the intention. But the consequence is that restaurants,
bars, theatres and other entertainment venues that rely heavily on pre-
Christmas trade to survive in the new year have again been pulverised by
cancelled bookings. Retailers also suffered on what should have been their
busiest weekend of the year, with the number of people on the high street
sharply down.

This is happening not because omicron seems to be especially virulent but
because the NHS faces meltdown as beds fill up and as more and more staff
take time off after they test positive. A critical manpower shortage is looming
that will feed into other key sectors and affect supply chains across the
board. The Government needs to amend the 10-day isolation requirement for
fully vaccinated people, otherwise the country will come to a grinding halt in
a few weeks’ time. This needs to be reduced to seven days at the most or to
end immediately after a negative lateral flow test.

What is extraordinary is that we are enduring precisely the same debate as
last Christmas, though then it was the Kent variant prompting lockdown
demands. Within a few weeks the number of cases soared, peaking at below
the case numbers we are seeing today, though fatalities were much higher.
But there is one fundamental difference between then and now: most people
have been double or even triple jabbed, and the vaccines – particularly with
a booster – are standing up to omicron.

If scientists and NHS chiefs seek to replicate virtually the same measures
that were deemed necessary before a vaccine was available, massive
questions are raised over how this spiral of despair can ever be brought to an
end. Covid is heading towards becoming an endemic disease that
experiences a surge every winter, as happens with all respiratory illnesses,
almost certainly involving more variants. Is this to go on for ever?

Great article, we either trust the vaccine or and some other mitigating measures like mask wearing or we dont

[arista]

Rishi Sunak recorded
is on SkyNewsHD

[arista]

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate
is back


Grants up to £6,000
many are saying its not enough.



[The chancellor also announced an extra £30m to help theatres and museums.]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59742884



[Echoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson's comments
on Monday,
Mr Sunak said ministers were keeping the situation
under review and monitoring the data
"day-by-day, hour by hour" but ruling nothing out.]

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by arista

Statutory Sick Pay Rebate
is back


Grants up to £6,000
many are saying its not enough.



[The chancellor also announced an extra £30m to help theatres and museums.]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59742884



[Echoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson's comments
on Monday,
Mr Sunak said ministers were keeping the situation
under review and monitoring the data
"day-by-day, hour by hour" but ruling nothing out.]

Did the government ever recover the millions ( billions?) thieved in all the fraudulent claims from last time ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[arista]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Did the government ever recover the millions ( billions?) thieved in all the fraudulent claims from last time ?

Some of it has been Recovered
but sadly not all of it.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Did the government ever recover the millions ( billions?) thieved in all the fraudulent claims from last time ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The aim is to crash the current financial system. You're gonna be chipped and your finances will be digital and controlled by the government.

It ain't rocket science.

[arista]

[Rishi Sunak unveils £1bn bailout for
stricken businesses as Boris sits on the
fence over post-Christmas lockdown - with ministers
braced for crucial Omicron data
as early as TODAY and Sturgeon
'poised to announce tougher
rules before New Year']

From Daily Mail.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...vid-curbs.html


[The chancellor has set out measures to help England's
hospitality sector as it struggles
with a collapse in bookings sparked
by the rise in Covid cases.
Speaking on Tuesday, Rishi Sunak unveiled
a £1bn fund of cash grants of up to £6,000
per premises for each eligible firm.]

From BBC link

[Cherie]

They are going to lock us down after Boxing Day aren't they, then they can claim you got a better Christmas than last year .... despite the uncertainty hanging over everyone

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Cherry Christmas

They are going to lock us down after Boxing Day aren't they, then they can claim you got a better Christmas than last year .... despite the uncertainty hanging over everyone

why wait until after christmas


oh wait, certain MP's want to celebrate christmas without a lockdown i guess

[arista]

Originally Posted by Cherry Christmas

They are going to lock us down after Boxing Day aren't they, then they can claim you got a better Christmas than last year .... despite the uncertainty hanging over everyone

Yes they are saying Parliament should be back
to vote in,
New Measures


Tues 28th Dec Date Or Weds 29th Date


Of course still to be confirmed

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Cherry Christmas

They are going to lock us down after Boxing Day aren't they, then they can claim you got a better Christmas than last year .... despite the uncertainty hanging over everyone

That would probably suit most people but maybe not all the ones who need to go out every night until Jan 1st boozing to have a good time ..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bots]

the fear mongering has smashed previous records

[Nicky91]

https://nltimes.nl/2021/12/21/omicro...less-effective

The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus now accounts for 10 to 15 percent of infections in the Netherlands, RIVM director Jaap van Dissel told the Tweede Kamer on Tuesday. Without a booster shot, the current Covid-19 vaccines used in the Netherlands are expected to be about four to five times less effective preventing an Omicron variant infection than a Delta variant infection. The Delta variant has been the most dominant variant in the country since July.

The Omicron variant is already causing a slightly larger share of infections in Amsterdam, Van Dissel said. It is expected to displace the Delta variant to become the dominant variant in the country by the end of the year.

Van Dissel also said that 85 percent of the people who were infected with the Omicron variant were fully vaccinated. This figure was about 62 percent regarding the Delta variant. People who previously were infected with coronavirus also seemed to be less protected against the Omicron variant, he said. Of the group that contracted the Omicron variant, about 3 percent previously recovered from the coronavirus. With the Delta variant this was slightly more than 1 percent.

Although a full course of vaccination provides reasonable protection against the Omicron variant in the short term, the effectiveness is expected to decrease quickly, Van Dissel said. A booster shot can "upgrade" the protection level against the Omicron variant. The effectiveness of the booster shot will also decrease over time, but less quickly, Van Dissel predicted.

"The vaccine was made against the Wuhan variant, which has not been circulating for a long time," explained Van Dissel. The Delta and Omicron variants are so different that the vaccine no longer recognizes them well, he added.

Van Dissel emphasized that it is still uncertain whether Omicron is as pathogenic as the Delta variant. During his presentation to the public health committee, he also showed the same graphs he showed Cabinet members last week, which showed that an extension of the evening lockdown could likely lead to over 4,000 Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care at the same time. Currently, the ICU system has a maximum capacity of about 1,200 spaces, with roughly 700 ready for Covid-19 cases.

Shortly after Van Dissel’s presentation to some Cabinet members, ministers and mayors were asked to attend emergency meetings about the state of the pandemic in the Netherlands. Later on Saturday, the Netherlands announced a full lockdown to last until January 14.

[arista]

The SNP leader is Live on TV news
at the Scottish Parliament.


Giving her Covid Statement.

[Nicky91]

Germany and Belgium ban dutch visitors from any christmas shopping in their nations

and Netherlands wants to ban german and belgian visitors from christmas holidays in our nation too

[arista]

Hogmanay events cancelled as Covid rules tightened

Scotland Get's Tough

[Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party has been cancelled
and football matches will be effectively
spectator-free as part of tough new Covid rules in Scotland.]

[The new restrictions come into force on Boxing Day.]

From the 27th of Dec : Table service Only.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...itics-59745262