COVID-19 News And Updates

Manchester City manager makes call as Covid cases surge ‘You cannot imagine how different it is playing with people’ Pep Guardiola believes masks should be mandatory in every public space to help ensure games will not have to be played in closed stadiums again due to the surge in Covid cases. Manchester City’s manager is concerned that because masks have to be used only in designated indoor environments this may not be enough to prevent football having to lock out fans once more. The champions are due to host Leicester City on Boxing Day, but Liverpool v Leeds and Wolves v Watford have been postponed because of the virus. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Covid case numbers continue to grow in NSW amid outbreak of Omicron variant Millions more Australians to be eligible for Covid booster Follow the live blog for the latest updates Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing New South Wales has reported 6,394 new infections on Boxing Day with 458 in hospital, a slight increase on the already record case numbers on Christmas Day. Victoria also reported a slight decrease in daily case numbers, with 1,608 new Covid-19 infections, including 374 in hospital. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Leadership hopefuls told to block new limits as scientists model curbs on bars and cafes Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Cabinet ministers vying to succeed Boris Johnson have been warned by Tory colleagues that they will damage their chances unless they stridently oppose further Covid measures, as MPs called for New Year’s Eve restrictions to be ruled out. With ministers expected to meet as soon as Monday to discuss whether additional measures are needed to protect hospital capacity , several Conservatives said that they would be watching those emerging as leading contenders to replace Johnson should he step aside before the next election. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Online purchases expected to surge as many shoppers avoid crowds due to Covid fears Record sales are expected this Boxing Day with shoppers tipped to splurge more than $20bn during the summer sales period. The Australian Retailers Association has estimated people will spend $21bn in the post-Christmas sales through to mid-January. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Churches cancel some services in New York, Washington and Boston, while some officials cut isolation period for positive cases The Omicron coronavirus variant vigorously continued its viral march across the US on Christmas Day, throwing many winter holiday celebrations into turmoil. Airlines canceled over 2,000 flights on Friday, with more than 600 within, into or out of the US, stranding passengers after short-staffed carriers were hit by pilot and flight attendants reporting infections. Hundreds more cancellations were anticipated for Saturday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As Omicron variant rips holes in casts and productions daily, theatres are forced to cancel shows – despite £30m support fund Just over a year ago, Anna-Jane Casey was forced to abandon the Covid-shuttered West End to deliver hundreds of parcels in a second-hand van. She was overjoyed to find herself back on stage this Christmas in one of theatreland’s most star-studded and critically acclaimed shows: Cabaret . But productions are at the mercy of Omicron, with the highly transmissible Covid variant ripping holes in casts and backstage staff daily, so Casey’s triumphant return to the West End has been put on hold. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Home schooling harms children. And we now have the knowhow and tools to mitigate the risks from Covid We still don’t know how severe the Omicron wave will be, and debates are raging about closing nightclubs, alcohol curfews and work-from-home guidance. It can sometimes feel like last Christmas all over again. But one decision should be clear. Given the tools and knowledge we have now, school closures should be off the table. Why were schools closed at all in previous lockdowns? The best approach was to minimise risk , given the limited knowledge about Covid-19 transmission and with no vaccination available to protect against severe health outcomes and death. Concerns about many different groups factored into policy decisions on schools. Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As a record 119,789 people in UK test positive for Covid, here is how to keep the Christmas spirit alive on your own Better days ahead: those self-isolating look on the bright side Ho, ho … oh no. This second Covid Christmas will not be a huge improvement from the first for many in the UK. More than 600,000 people will be forced to self-isolate on Christmas Day after a record 119,789 tested positive for Covid, the highest daily figure since the pandemic began. Officials say the self-isolation figure could rise to 750,000 as the Omicron variant continues to drive a record daily number of new cases. While not being able to spend Christmas with loved ones will be devastating for most, some people are turning to unique methods to keep the festive spirit alive. Here are four things to look out for if you’re self-isolating over Christmas . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The climate crisis resembles a huge planetary lockdown, trapping humanity within an ever-deteriorating environment There is a moment when a never-ending crisis turns into a way of life. This seems to be the case with the pandemic . If so, it’s wise to explore the permanent condition in which it has left us. One obvious lesson is that societies have to learn once again to live with pathogens, just as they learned to when microbes were first made visible by the discoveries of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. These discoveries were concerned with only one aspect of microbial life. When you also consider the various sciences of the earth system, another aspect of viruses and bacteria comes to the fore. During the long geochemical history of the earth, microbes, together with fungi and plants, have been essential, and are still essential, to the very composition of the environment in which we humans live. The pandemic has shown us that we will never escape the invasive presence of these liv

Jenny Harries of UKHSA says jabs will help prevent serious illness even if immunity wanes after 10 weeks Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Jenny Harries, the chief executive of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has urged the public to carry on getting boosted and not to be alarmed by press coverage about waning immunity. Harries conceded that booster vaccines had waning immunity against catching Omicron after 10 weeks, but said the jabs would still help prevent serious illness and death. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As the Omicron variant spreads rapidly, many clinically extremely vulnerable people in England are being forced to isolate in fear of their lives Once a week at about 5.30am, Hayley Ashton pulls two masks over her face, sanitises a shopping trolley with her handbag disinfectant then takes a deep breath before stepping into the fluorescent glare of her local supermarket in Leicester. These grocery trips feel for Ashton, a 33-year-old project manager who is immunocompromised and has severe asthma, like treacherous expeditions where she risks serious illness or death. “It’s the one area you just can’t control,” she said. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Experts call for public health measures beyond vaccines as health workers describe a ‘war zone’ As the highly transmissible Omicron variant began to surge across Colorado this month, Governor Jared Polis adopted a laissez-faire tone. Asked in a radio interview about the possibility of reinstating a statewide mask mandate, he replied that, with Covid vaccines now widely available, getting sick was the “own darn fault” of the unvaccinated. But health workers at hospitals in parts of Colorado that have been overwhelmed by coronavirus patients in recent weeks say they’re bracing for even worse. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Sometimes the only contact Covid intensive care patients had with their family was via FaceTime or Skype, Dr Katrina Tonga says Read more of our series Inside Covid Three intensive care workers share the stories that have remained hidden from public view during the pandemic. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

JCVI member says a decision is pending on whether those older and more vulnerable need an extra dose Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Some people may need a fourth dose of Covid vaccine to remain protected, a government scientific adviser has said, with a decision expected shortly after the Christmas and new year holidays. Prof Adam Finn said: “I think there may well be people who received their boosters early who are in the older more vulnerable age groups who may need a further jab. That has not been decided yet. It is still under review and discussion, and we will be providing recommendations on that at some point in the new year.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Number of seated diners down by 14 percentage points in week ending 20 December, says ONS Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK public’s appetite for eating out has plunged to its weakest since the spring amid growing evidence of the impact of the Omicron variant on the hospitality sector during its crucial pre-Christmas period. The number of seated diners fell by 14 percentage points in the week ending 20 December to 88% of the level in the same period of 2019, before the start of the pandemic, according to the weekly digest of flash economic indicators from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Premier League confirms those two matches cannot be played Postponements forced by the virus reach 12 in top flight Leeds v Liverpool and Wolves v Watford have been removed from the Premier League’s Boxing Day fixture list after Covid caused further disruption to football’s festive schedule. Outbreaks within the Leeds and Watford squads mean neither side are able to call on the 13 outfield players and goalkeeper necessary. The Premier League acknowledged the decision “will disappoint supporters” and said it “understands their frustrations at a special time of year when fans look forward to attending and watching football games”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Healthcare workers around the world have been on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic for almost two years, which put them through the darkest days of their careers. Five doctors who have worked in hospitals in Uganda, New Zealand, the US, India, the UK and Brazil told the Guardian about how the pandemic had tested them personally and professionally, but how they continue to find hope and resolve to keep working. Thanks to Dr Peter Kavuma, Dr Dalilah Restrepo, Dr Yogesh Kalkonde, Dr Anne Menezes and Dr Megan Smith, who is also a spokesperson at the campaigning organisation EveryDoctor ICU is full of the unvaccinated – my patience with them is wearing thin | The Secret Consultant Voices of the Covid bereaved: 'Our loved ones aren't just a number' – video Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Two studies show people may be at less risk from latest Covid variant but ‘we don’t have conclusive data’ Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Evidence the Omicron variant is less severe than originally feared does not remove the threat to the NHS this winter, a health service leader has warned. Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and other NHS trusts, said two studies showing that people infected with Omicron were at less risk of being admitted to hospital than those infected with the Delta variant were good news. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Operators of Melbourne Covid-ravaged nursing home will have to give evidence despite claim it could incriminate them The operators of a Melbourne nursing home ravaged by a Covid-19 outbreak will have to give evidence to an inquest despite their argument it would be a “dress rehearsal” in any potential future prosecution. Kon Kontis and Vicky Kos last week faced the Victorian Coroners Court and formally requested to be excused from testifying at the inquest into the fatal outbreak at St Basil’s Home for the Aged on the grounds they may incriminate themselves. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Through Brexit, the Tories effectively promised a less crowded and less cosmopolitan country. And that is what they have created Britain is full. That vague but powerful assumption has shaped so much of our politics. From the Brexit campaign with its “breaking point” poster of a queue of migrants and refugees, and border-fixated home secretaries from Jack Straw to Priti Patel, to the regular immigration panics spread by newspapers to voters, the idea that these small islands have reached their maximum viable population has become hugely influential. It’s a convenient situation for the right. Blame for congestion and strained public services can be placed on population growth and migrants, rather than on our profoundly unequal patterns of land ownership and use or Conservative cuts in state spending. But the idea that Britain is full – or too full already – also appeals more widely: to some environmentalists, to people who like peace and quiet, and dislike cities or new housing devel

Why do we need to turn this — as we do so much else — into a question of individual risk, personal calculation, and self-interested choice? When it comes to the surging Omicron variant of Covid, just about all I’m hearing is advice about holiday planning. Should one attend a holiday party? Travel ? Meet friends at a restaurant ? Much of the answer boils down to how to calculate one’s tolerance for risk when so little is known about Omicron except that it spreads easily. Experts are throwing around a lot of numbers . Columnists are sharing their own personal calculations . Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and the author of Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few and The Common Good . His new book, The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It , is out now. He is a Guardian US columnist. His newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

At least 10% of those who survive any Covid infection – whether asymptomatic or severe – will develop long Covid On Wednesday, the New York Times – and others – published what appeared to be good news. “Omicron infections seem to be milder, three research teams report” read the headline. Many readers must have been relieved to see this news, especially with cases sky-rocketing even as the holiday season is in full swing. As someone living with post-viral conditions exacerbated by Long Covid, I read the story carefully. I noted the preliminary nature of the data from South Africa, Scotland and England, and the prediction that the greater infectiousness of Omicron would still likely land many people in hospitals already strained to capacity. JD Davids, a health justice strategist working with networks of disabled and chronically ill people, including people living with HIV, long Covid and ME/CFS , is the lead author of Chronic Injustice: Centering Equitable Health Care and Policies f

Just as vaccines can fend off of a virus, we can psychologically strengthen others against misinformation The holiday season is upon us, but as you’re getting ready for this year’s celebrations you can’t help but notice a sinking feeling in your stomach: you’re going to have to listen to another conspiratorial rant from your cranky uncle at the dinner table. The unwanted gift that likely awaits many of us at home this Christmas – in one form or another – is contagious misinformation. Although the NHS clearly states that the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective, a family member may nonetheless share fake news around the dinner table that they cause autoimmune disease, that Bill Gates is using them to implant microchips for global tracking and surveillance, or maybe that the whole vaccine rollout is simply a hoax, given rumours of fake syringes with “ disappearing needles ”. Perhaps the concerns in question are less conspiratorial in nature but still based on false information,

The pro-business premier eased restrictions and ‘opened up’ the NSW economy but staff are ill or isolating while customers are staying at home Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing NSW’s laissez-faire premier, Dominic Perrottet, has found himself mugged by reality on the cusp of Christmas. Here are the grim statistics that tell us what is happening in NSW: 5,715 new cases reported on Thursday; 1,500 health workers sick or isolating (leaving the health system even more stressed); rising Covid cases in ICU and nearly 150,000 people a day lining up to get tested. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Measure aimed at frontline workers to reduce spread of Omicron variant may increase unrest in country with low vaccine take-up, critics warn Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Civil rights groups in Malawi have cautioned the government on its decision to make the Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for frontline workers. From January, it will be compulsory for public sector workers, including healthcare staff, police and teachers, as well as journalists, to be vaccinated, after an announcement by Malawi’s health minister, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, last week . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Few cases and high vaccination rates, but these successes have come at a cost Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage As the Covid-19 pandemic hurtles towards its second anniversary, New Zealand will emerge from 2021 with some of the best health outcomes in the world, despite confronting its toughest few pandemic months. This year New Zealand experienced its longest lockdown , its highest daily case numbers (222 in mid-November), more hospitalisations than in 2020 and a pivot away from the government’s ambitious elimination approach to one of strict virus control. But it can now boast a 90% double vaccination for the eligible population and one of the lowest per capita death rates, while its cases in the current outbreak are trending downwards. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet has announced that masks will be mandated inside as Covid cases surge ahead of Christmas celebrations. ‘As of midnight tonight, we will be requiring that masks are worn in indoor settings’, Perrottet says. New density limits for venues will will also be brought in. Perrottet addresses the long queues at testing clinics, saying if you are not unwell please don’t get a PCR test but use a rapid antigen test. NSW will be moving towards providing free RAT, says Perrottet ►  Subscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube Follow the Australia news live blog for the latest updates Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Some see his re-emergence as a kind of penance, others as a story of redemption. Could he return to government? Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Considering how many parties they are alleged to have held, Boris Johnson and his government have recently seemed to be very short of friends. A national shortage of Downing Street defenders reached its nadir on 8 December, the morning after a video emerged of No 10 staff laughing and joking about “cheese and wine” at a “business meeting”. Even Sajid Javid, the health secretary, pulled out of a morning media round. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Sajid Javid, the UK health secretary, said the Covid self-isolation period will be cut from 10 days to 7 for people in England who get a negative lateral flow test result two days in a row. With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly in Britain and record levels of cases over the past week, many industries are struggling with staff shortages, including hospitals who have warned of the risk of an impact on patient safety. 'We want to reduce the disruption from Covid-19 to people’s everyday lives,' Javid said Covid self-isolation cut to seven days with negative test in England Covid live news Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Many forced to cancel family reunions and holidays amid requirement to return a negative test 72 hours before arrival Follow the Australia news live blog for the latest updates Which Covid rapid antigen tests sold in Australia can you trust and what do they cost? Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Heartbroken families are being forced to cancel Christmas and holiday plans as Queensland Covid testing requirements leave them locked out or turned away. Almost 260,000 Australians have crossed the border into Queensland since Monday but many more have been turned away and sent home or forced to cancel family reunions and expensive holiday bookings because of testing delays. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Leaders insist festivities will go on but many who had planned family get-togethers could now find themselves home alone Download the free Guardian app ; get our morning email briefing Many Australians could end up spending the festive holiday period alone in isolation after being exposed to a Covid case even as governments resist shutting borders and insist Christmas won’t be cancelled. Overworked health systems are struggling to cope up with new outbreaks and some state and territory governments have moved to tighten mask mandates and social distancing restrictions. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The question now is not whether Omicron will be bad for the NHS, but whether it will be just dreadful or catastrophic Christina Pagel is director of UCL’s Clinical Operational Research Unit The emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron variant represents the biggest threat to the NHS since last December’s rise of the Alpha variant. The NHS only managed then by reducing much non-Covid work and by putting a brake on the rise of cases with the second lockdown in January 2021. A year later, the lack of urgency in the government response is a danger to us all. NHS staff are exhausted. They have been working flat out for almost two years. For some of that time they had to struggle with rising numbers of seriously ill patients with Covid-19. When each wave subsided, they turned to the backlog of cases that had built up in the meantime – this enormous backlog started before the pandemic and numbers almost 6 million people . Meanwhile, Covid patients still make up about a quarter of occup

Continental media are in no mood to donner un break to the British PM, sensing the ‘beginning of the end’ For El País in Spain, his “magic has vanished”. For Libération in France he is “the only actor in the Boris Johnson show – which is, increasingly, a flop”. In Germany, Der Spiegel asked how long Britain could last being governed “almost exclusively by defiant optimism”. As the scandals mount, the approval ratings plunge, the electoral defeats accumulate, the rebellions multiply, his trusted Brexit lieutenant jumps ship and the Omicron variant runs rampant, continental media seem – to coin a phrase – in no mood to donner un break to Britain’s beleaguered prime minister . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The latest daily updates on coronavirus cases in your local area and nationally. Check week-on-week changes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the latest figures from public health authorities Coronavirus has hit the UK hard, with the country recording more than 10m cases and 140,000 deaths linked to the disease. The government figures below include confirmed cases only – some people who have the disease are not tested. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The Cabinet Office minister, Stephen Barclay, has said imposing plan B Covid measures in England has caused 'significant behaviour change' to consumers' habits, adding that the Treasury will respond to the concerns of businesses later on Tuesday.   Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Barclay said implementing more restrictions would come at a 'very significant economic cost' Treasury to respond to concerns of firms suffering due to Covid, says Barclay Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Paxlovid is expected to work well against Omicron. The real problem is that production is insufficient What if there was a pill you could take as soon as you test positive for Covid, that stopped the virus in its tracks? A pill hat reduced the viral number of copies in your upper airway (known as viral load) by more than tenfold, markedly reducing contagiousness to others? And that reduced the chance of hospitalization by nearly 90%? There is such a pill, called Paxlovid, which was developed specifically for the Sars-CoV-2 virus, derived from a molecule that was effective in the lab against the original SARS virus, and is a potent inhibitor of the main protease of the virus, called Mpro. It’s the chokepoint for preventing the virus to replicate. It has been tested in two randomized clinical trials compared with a placebo, and not only was its potency established, but it proved to be as safe as the placebo. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The school district superintendent of New Centralia, Washington, reveals the struggles of managing a too-tight budget caused by shortage of funds during a pandemic This story about public school funding was produced by The Hechinger Report , a non-profit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter . At 8.01pm, on an unseasonably warm April evening, Lisa Grant hit refresh on her internet browser. Grant had been the superintendent of schools in this old coal and lumber town on the side of I-5, the major highway running the length of the west coast, for just 10 months. Tonight, she’d find out if she’d have the funding she needed to keep doing that job. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

NSW continues to resist calls for some restrictions to be brought back as peak doctors’ body says doing so ‘is a no-brainer’ Download the free Guardian app ; get our morning email briefing Masks will again be mandatory indoors in the ACT as the territory government tightens Covid restrictions due to an increase in Omicron infections. Victoria has not ruled out tightening indoor mask mandates but will not make wholesale changes to restrictions for Christmas gatherings and major events to limit Omicron cases. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

It’s nearly inevitable that we will face another pandemic. If we don’t plan to counter it, tomorrow will be like today, except much, much worse For decades, scientists warned that urban encroachment on pristine habitats would unleash dangerous new viruses. Covid-19 should not have been a surprise – and, since viruses always mutate , neither should Omicron have been. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Those aiming to spend time with loved ones on Christmas Day speak about what they have decided to do beforehand Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage In the days leading up to Christmas, people across the country are rethinking plans and opting to cancel parties or other events in order to voluntarily isolate so they can spend time with their loved ones. The staggering speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading means that people should consider not mixing “with people you don’t have to” during the festive period, Prof Chris Whitty said during the Covid press briefing last Wednesday. Pubs and restaurants have reported a wave of cancellations as people decide to impose their own lockdown to avoid catching the virus. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Rich countries must act decisively, as they did after the 2009 financial crash. I have a plan that will work, but do they have the will? Time and again throughout history, perpetrators of injustice have absolved themselves and justified miserliness and inaction by blaming the victim. Amid allegations of African culpability for the Omicron outbreak and complaints from the global north about vaccine hesitancy and low take-up in the global south, 2021 has seen this shameful story being told anew. But the new variant is not Africa’s fault. Responsibility starts with the governments of wealthy nations that stockpiled hundreds of millions of vaccine doses and that, even when warned about the failure to vaccinate more vulnerable parts of the world, did too little as the virus mutated. Gordon Brown is the WHO ambassador for global health financing, and was UK prime minister from 2007 to 2010 Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Surge in cases among staff causes closure of several museums during busy school holiday period Coronavirus – latest updates At least five national attractions including the Natural History Museum and Edinburgh Castle have closed because of the surge in Covid cases. The start of the Christmas school holidays is usually one of the busiest times at the Natural History Museum but it will be closed from Tuesday “due to an unforeseen staff shortage”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Families and friends who lost loved ones to Covid criticise Boris Johnson over Downing Street gathering Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Bereaved families and friends of people who died from Covid have criticised Boris Johnson over a photo that has emerged showing the prime minister at a gathering with wine and cheese in the Downing Street garden with his wife and up to 17 staff in an apparent breach of lockdown rules. The photo was shared with the Guardian after No 10’s denial last week that there was a social event on Friday 15 May 2020 that included wine, spirits and pizza, inside and outside the building. Johnson’s spokesperson said Downing Street staff were working in the garden in the afternoon and evening. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Pharmaceuticals firm says third dose of its Covid vaccine increases antibodies against variant by 37-fold Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The pharmaceuticals company Moderna has said a booster dose of its Covid vaccine appeared to protect against the fast-spreading Omicron variant in laboratory testing and that the current version will continue to be its “first line of defence against Omicron”. The decision to focus on the current vaccine, mRNA-1273, was driven in part by how quickly the variant is spreading. The company plans to develop a vaccine specifically to protect against Omicron, which it hopes to advance into clinical trials early next year. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Justice secretary rejects fears ‘plan B’ measures are too tough, saying Omicron severity is still not known Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Dominic Raab has said he disagrees with the concerns of the former Brexit minister David Frost that Covid restrictions are too coercive, saying it was too early to know how damaging the rapid spread of the Omicron variant may be. Amid speculation that Boris Johnson could be considering further restrictions for England before Christmas given the risk of thousands of hospitalisations a day, Raab said it was correct to respond robustly to an “unprecedented” pandemic. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Chief White House medical adviser: breakthroughs will happen 22,000 new cases but New York says hospitals can cope Harris: White House did not see Omicron coming The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has “extraordinary spreading capabilities”, the US government’s top infectious diseases expert said on Sunday, warning that it is already “raging through the world”. Dr Anthony Fauci’s warning came ahead of the busy holiday traveling period, which he said would elevate the risk of infection even in vaccinated people. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Thousands drive miles as appointment-only systems jeopardise aim of offering third vaccination to all adults by end of month Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Large swathes of the country, including several major cities, have no vaccination walk-in centres, it has emerged, sparking fears the government will miss its target of offering all adults a booster jab by the end of this month. As the tide of Omicron cases surges, thousands seeking a third vaccination without having to wait days or weeks for an appointment are driving miles to neighbouring counties. People without transport and those for whom a walk-in centre is the only option – because they do not have a GP or an NHS number – have no access to Covid jabs. This article was updated on 19 December 2021 to reflect that walk-in centres have now opened in Hampshire. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Washington Republican tested positive for Covid in El Salvador Trump supporter opposed pandemic emergency orders Harris: White House did not see Omicron coming Doug Ericksen, a staunch conservative Washington state senator who led Donald Trump’s campaign in the north-western state and was an outspoken critic of Democratic governor Jay Inslee’s Covid-19 pandemic emergency orders, has died. He was 52. Ericksen’s death on Friday came weeks after he said he tested positive for coronavirus while in El Salvador – though his cause of death wasn’t immediately released. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Chelsea make request after three more positive Covid-19 tests Premier League deems Chelsea have enough players available Chelsea’s fixture with Wolves at Molineux will go ahead as planned on Sunday after the Premier League denied the visitors’ request to postpone the game due to an increase in positive Covid-19 tests. Thomas Tuchel’s side made the request after recording another three Covid cases in their latest round of testing. It brings the club’s total number of positives to seven after Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and the injured Ben Chilwell all tested positive before Thursday’s draw with Everton. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Omicron surge leads to event cancellations and lines at testing sites but health system not yet under serious strain Harris: White House did not see Omicron coming New York state reported on Saturday that nearly 22,000 people tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday – eclipsing Thursday for the highest single-day total for new cases since testing became widely available. Amid fears over the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, more than half of the positive results were in the city. The Rockettes on Friday canceled remaining performances of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular , citing “increasing challenges from the pandemic”. Saturday Night Live taped without an audience and with reduced crew. Lines at some testing sites stretched around the block and at-home tests remained hard to find or pricier than usual . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Boris Johnson’s cabinet is caught once more between doing the right thing and doing the ideological thing It’s shaping up to be all too familiar. A worsening outlook in the pandemic, a government slow to react, and confidence fading fast among businesses and households. In many ways Christmas couldn’t come soon enough for Boris Johnson’s government, amid a storm of bad news as the prime minister’s Teflon ability to survive political scandal appears to be deserting him at last. But rather than acting as a distraction, the festive period merely highlights the serious problems facing the British economy that could make matters worse. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The UK health secretary refused to rule out imposing tougher Covid restrictions in England before Christmas, after warnings that hospitalisations could peak at up to 10,000 a day without further action.  Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Javid acknowledged that the data on Omicron remained incomplete - but suggested it might be necessary to make decisions before a full picture is available Sajid Javid refuses to rule out further Covid curbs before Christmas Coronavirus – latest updates Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Health secretary speaks as scientists warn hospitalisations could peak at 3,000-10,000 a day if no action taken Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The health secretary, Sajid Javid, has made clear that tougher Covid restrictions could be imposed in England before Christmas, after the government’s Sage committee warned that hospitalisations could peak at between 3,000 and 10,000 a day unless action is taken. Javid acknowledged that data about the Omicron variant remained incomplete – but suggested it might be necessary to make decisions before a full picture is available. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

City project that used lateral flow tests to monitor population took pressure off NHS at critical time Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Mass lateral flow testing cut the number of people needing hospital treatment for Covid by 32% and relieved significant pressure on the NHS when the measures were piloted last year, a study has shown. Liverpool conducted the first city-wide testing scheme using rapid antigen tests in November last year, amid debate about whether or not lateral flow tests (LFTs) were accurate enough to detect the virus in asymptomatic carriers. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

But, fortunately, it cannot continue indefinitely The health secretary impressed parliament last week when he said daily Omicron infections were estimated at about 200,000 . This was classic “ number theatre ” – pulling a big statistic out of a hat without supporting evidence. Although the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) later briefed the press, it only publicly revealed its workings on Thursday: it had estimated 23,000 Omicron infections on 7 December, then assumed exponential growth with a doubling time of 1.9 days. We will have to wait for infection survey estimates to know if this is accurate. Exponential growth simply means something increases in proportion to its current value – the bigger it gets, the more it increases each day. This does not necessarily mean “fast” – a savings account has this kind of growth, even with a 0.1% compound interest rate. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Omicron cases are soaring, experts want curbs and Boris Johnson is dithering. Sound familiar? Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage That old adage of Marx insists that historical events occur first as tragedy, then as farce. The government’s handling of the pandemic in the UK long ago undermined that progression: tragedy and farce have, since the very beginning of the crisis, always been a double act. The clashing tone of current events feels like a dispiriting festive repeat of all-too-familiar dramas. A week that began with the exposed scandal of Downing Street lockdown parties, and ended with chief civil servant Simon Case stepping down as investigator of those scandals, because of a party in his own office, was also yet another week in which the alarming progress of the virus outpaced government rhetoric and claimed another thousand lives. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Traditional open-air singing and wassailing plans abound to keep spirit of Christmas alive in Britain this year Clad in mittens and bobble hats, carol singers are moving back to traditional open-air performance this Christmas in response to health concerns. A string of scheduled professional and amateur choral concerts will now take place outside, while many streets are organising door-to-door carolling for charity. Last year, group singing of any kind was deemed unsafe and, as Covid social restrictions return this December, singing alfresco has emerged as one of relatively few sanctioned communal activities. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Retail was in crisis even before Covid. Now the virus has created so much turmoil that the future is becoming hard to read After nearly two years of disruption, Covid-19 has changed how we shop for ever. It has altered not only what we buy, but how we buy it. Big purchases involve clicks, not shopping trips, and remote working has turned the home interiors market into the new fast fashion. It has also signalled the end of overwhelming choice for consumers, analysts say, as gaps on shelves and long delivery times for items such as cars and sofas become a frustrating fact of life. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Premier League game called off two hours before kick-off Only four top-flight matches still on this weekend Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Burnley has been postponed just hours before kick-off, following more Covid-19 cases in the hosts’ camp. The postponement leaves only one Premier League match remaining from the six that were scheduled to take place on Saturday, with Leeds against Arsenal in the late kick-off the only surviving fixture. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

From hot drinks to charming streetside cottages, restaurateurs are hoping to entice diners to Covid-safe winter dining Before the pandemic, restaurants with outdoor seating were the exception in New York City. Sidewalk permits were prohibitively expensive, harsh winters were impractical, and muggy summers uncomfortable. But the social distancing rules that closed restaurant dining rooms across the country last year to curb the spread of Covid-19 had a devastating impact on the US restaurant and food service industry, which reported $120bn in lost revenue in the first three months of the pandemic alone (the running total is now $280bn). Outdoor dining emerged as a vital lifeline. To salvage the industry, the New York City government attempted to make it easier for restaurants to seat diners safely outdoors. Mayor Bill de Blasio launched the Open Restaurants initiative in June 2020, which legally permitted roadside dining and simplified the application process. Since then, more than

Post-Christmas measures could include ban on mixing indoors except for work, with outdoor service only at pubs and restaurants Tougher measures could be introduced to stem the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, with reports that plans are being drawn up for a two-week “circuit breaker” after Christmas. Ministers are due “imminently” to present draft regulations that would mean England returning to restrictions last seen in April, according to the Times. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

If Omicron threatens to disrupt your plans, don’t panic – here’s a guide to making the best of it Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage So here we are again. Out are the plans to dust off your dancing shoes at the Christmas party, and in is the stockpiling of toilet rolls and boxes of chocolates for the long nights ahead. With a “staggering” increase in Covid cases accelerated by the spread of the Omicron variant predicted by medical advisers this week , many people are fearing that they will once again face Christmas in not-so-splendid isolation. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Analysis: Scotland’s first minister avoids scoring political points, but officials express growing unease Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Nicola Sturgeon struck a sombre tone as she confirmed on Friday that Omicron had replaced Delta as the dominant Covid strain in Scotland. Addressing the public for the third time this week, Scotland’s first minister said: “The tsunami I warned about last week is starting to hit us.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Analysis: If the spread continues at this rate, a small proportion of Covid hospitalisations is a serious matter With the booster programme at full tilt across the UK, immunity against Covid is rising – so it is perhaps not surprising that the concern shown by experts over the steep rise in Omicron infections has left some bemused. For while the new variant is believed to dodge Covid vaccines to some degree, it is thought the jabs still offer good protection against severe disease – particularly after a booster . And greater levels of immunity mean a lower ratio of hospitalisations to cases – something we have seen before in the UK, where about 22% of cases in those aged 65 and older ended up in hospital in early 2021, when Alpha was dominant but few had received a vaccine, compared with about 6% after the vaccine rollout was well under way. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Concerts, parties and weddings booked to coincide with annual homecoming of overseas Nigerians Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage For several weeks this summer, Agnes Olowogboye was simultaneously monitoring flight tickets to Lagos from her home in London and checking the news for updates on Nigeria’s coronavirus restrictions. Unable to visit Nigeria last year because of the pandemic, she was giddy with excitement at the prospect of being reuniting with family and friends – and partying. “Ticket prices were going up every single day and within a few minutes of checking, the cost went up by another £100,” says the 27-year-old financial regulations consultant, who finally booked her flight in early September. “This is my chance to do Detty December, enjoy the nightlife and go for parties with all of my friends.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The city appears to be behind the UK’s Omicron curve, but parties are starting to be cancelled “How are things over there? It’s mad over here.” Until recently that line, delivered by people in the UK to people in the US, gave rise to some smugness among the Americans. During late summer and autumn, the pendulum of who was having a better pandemic had swung firmly towards those in the UK. Enviously, we in New York looked across the Atlantic to British kids sitting unmasked at school, at indoor playdates and parties, and at the conviction, voiced by many in Britain, that everything was more or less back to normal. Now you all seem to have Covid and Christmas is cancelled. No one here is talking about cancelling the holidays. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Brazilian president plans to reveal identities despite health officers receiving death threats Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has asked for the names of health officials who approved Covid vaccines for children, saying he planned to make their identities public despite previous death threats. In late October, Brazil’s health regulator, Anvisa, released a statement saying five of its directors had received death threats over the possible approval of vaccinations for children of five-11. The agency granted such approval for the Pfizer shot on Thursday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Mortgage lender Halifax forecasts growth will be ‘broadly flat’ next year The boom in UK house prices is likely to end next year as household finances become increasingly stretched, according to Halifax. The mortgage lender said it expected the red-hot increases in average house prices over the last two years – 8% so far this year and 6% in 2020 – to end, with growth forecast to be “broadly flat” in 2022. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The chief medical officer for England, Chris Whitty, faces a select committee hearing where he will answer questions about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the day after new infections in the UK reached a record 78,610 laboratory-confirmed cases Follow our Covid live blog Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The NHS will soon be overwhelmed unless coherent and strict rules are applied to social distancing Dr Chaand Nagpaul is chair of the British Medical Association council In Sunday evening’s extraordinary televised address, when the prime minister warned that Britain was facing a “ tidal wave ” of Omicron cases, it was notable that the only focus was the mission to vaccinate the nation with boosters. There was no mention of the other vital public health measures needed to urgently reduce the levels of social mixing and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed. Given the reduced effectiveness of two vaccinations against the new Omicron variant, there is absolutely no doubt that the accelerated booster campaign is crucial to control the spread and impact of the virus – but we cannot rely on this alone. The alarming pace with which it is spreading through the country, with a record of more than 78,000 new daily cases yesterday, shows the pressing need for additional effective infection

In many states, healthcare systems are already under strain due to an increase in Delta infections over the Thanksgiving holidays A wave of new Omicron cases is beginning to surge in America and could peak as early as January, the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC) has warned, as states are scrambling to prepare for overloaded hospitals. The US has passed 800,000 deaths, including 1 in 100 Americans over the age of 65. The Omicron variant accounted for nearly 3% of Covid cases in the US as of Saturday – up from only 0.4% the week before, according to data from the CDC. The variant is expected to continue rising rapidly, based on the experiences of other countries and could be dominant within weeks. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Thomas Frank also wants Carabao Cup ties postponed ‘We can do a lot by closing down training grounds,’ he says Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, has called for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures to be postponed to allow clubs to deal with coronavirus outbreaks. Frank saw his side’s match against Manchester United on Tuesday called off as the country deals with the Omicron variant, and Burnley’s game at home to Watford on Wednesday became the third Premier League fixture in a week to be postponed . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Shares plunge as firm warns supply chain issues and ‘exceptionally high’ rate of customer returns are denting sales Fast fashion group Boohoo has warned that full-year profits and sales will be lower than expected after being hit by more customers returning clothes, delivery disruptions and surging costs. Shares in the online clothing retailer plunged 15% in response to its second warning in four months, despite its insistence that the current difficulties facing the business were mostly related to the pandemic and therefore “transient in nature”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Government spokesperson says tourism trips will be limited and quarantine enforced for returnees Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage France is to tighten restrictions on travel from Britain to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 that is causing record numbers of cases on the other side of the Channel, the French government has said. “We will put in place a system of controls drastically tighter than the one we have already,” the government spokesperson Gabriel Attal told BFM television, saying the office of the prime minister, Jean Castex, would issue a statement on the new measures in the coming hours. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Focusing on double jabs and boosters ignores the global picture from which even this island nation is not immune Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Britain is caught in a Covid doom loop, the pattern of which is becoming depressingly familiar. A new variant of the virus appears. It spreads rapidly. Restrictions are imposed to slow transmission rates and to take pressure off the NHS, but the economy suffers. Case numbers eventually fall and life gets back to something like normal. For a while, anyway. For a government that constantly trumpets the idea of global Britain, the political focus is scarily narrow. A year-end target has been set for jabbing every adult in England, and every night the BBC dutifully reports how many more people have had their booster. Larry Elliott is the Guardian’s economics editor Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

We were told coronavirus didn’t discriminate, but it didn’t need to – society had already done that for us. But there is a path to a fairer future if we want it In June 2020, I attended a Black Lives Matter demonstration in north London, not far from my house. My wife had found out about it from friends who’d found out about it on Facebook. We took the kids. Well over 1,000 people went; beyond my immediate circle, I only recognised a few there. The soundsystem was poor and I couldn’t hear what was being said from the stage. We took a knee like Colin Kaepernick while raising a fist like the Black Panthers and held the pose for eight minutes – the length of time Derek Chauvin kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Then we clapped, chatted and made our way back to our locked-down homes. I have no idea who called the demonstration. It just happened and then it was gone. In the weeks before and after, institutions made statements; reviews were announced; social media avatars changed; museu

Boss of UK’s biggest electrical goods firm urges government not to impose further restrictions on high street Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The boss of Currys has urged the government not to impose further restrictions on high street retailers as he revealed a slowdown in sales amid increasing fears over the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant and product shortages. Alex Baldock, the chief executive of the UK’s biggest electrical goods retailer, which formerly traded as PC World, Carphone Warehouse and Dixons, said there was “zero evidence of public health risk” in stores and the government would need an “unanswerable public health case” to close them in another lockdown, given the implications for jobs and the wider economy. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Professor behind symptom tracker app says Omicron variant causes headaches, sore throat and runny nose Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage People who have cold symptoms in London are more likely to have Covid, according to the scientist behind the Zoe coronavirus symptom tracker app. Prof Tim Spector told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the “majority of symptoms” of the Omicron variant were the same as a common cold, including headaches, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Labour leader tells Commons the prime minister is ‘taking the public for fools and it’s becoming dangerous’ Coronavirus – latest updates Keir Starmer has said Boris Johnson is “too weak” to lead the UK through the health crisis caused by Omicron, and the government’s reliance on Labour votes to pass new Covid measures showed the PM had lost authority with his own MPs. In a final prime minister’s questions before Christmas, the Labour leader pointed to the rebellion by 99 Conservative MPs on Tuesday evening over Covid certificates, which meant that without opposition support the government would have been defeated in the Commons vote. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian