Covid Omicron latest: Boris Johnson faces crunch decision tomorrow on triggering
Nurses aware Christmas this year could be worse than last, warns RCN
The prime minsiter is set to face crunch talks on Monday on whether to introduce a new set of coronavirus restrictions to stem the surge of Omicron infections around the New Year.
Boris Johnson will be briefed by chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance on the latest data on infections, hospitalisations and deaths for the first time in three days after a break for Christmas.
It follows reports that door-to-door Covid-19 vaccines may be offered in an effort to reach those yet to have their jabs.
Speaking to The Independent, NHS England has since denied there are no plans for such a roll-out to be implemented.
The Mail on Sunday reported a trial which had been carried out in Ipswich, Suffolk, could be expanded across the whole country as the Government attempted to hold out against introducing new restrictions in England.
According to No 10 sources, the aim was to expand the scheme to the rest of the country.
Omicron symptoms: What to look out for from new Covid variant
Given that the symptoms associated with the original strain of Covid-19 and its first variants were so similar to the common cold, it has been difficult to tell over the last year or so whether the onset of headaches and sniffles meant you had contracted the coronavirus or just a bout of conventional winter flu.
So, what should you look out for when trying to differentiate between the two?
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar, Celine Wadhera and Joe Sommerlad have the details here:
Emily Atkinson26 December 2021 18:50
Boxing Day sales plummet amid surge in Covid cases
The number of shoppers hunting for a bargain in the Boxing Day sales in person has plummeted compared with pre-pandemic levels as the spectre of coronavirus kept many away, new figures show.
Footfall at shopping sites across the UK on Boxing Day up to noon was 45% below the 2019 level, according to data from retail expert Springboard.
In central London, footfall was 67% lower than 2019 numbers, while it was 58% below 2019 in other major UK cities.
But market towns fared slightly better, seeing a 12% decrease from 2019 shopping traffic, while there was only a 7% drop in outer London.
New coronavirus restrictions have come into force today in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which may have had an impact on the number of shoppers hitting the sales.
Footfall in Northern Ireland was 73% below the 2019 level, 63% lower in Wales, and almost 50% lower in Scotland.
Despite the drop, large queues formed outside the Trafford Centre in Manchester with shoppers waiting since 8am, while bargain hunters also lined up outside Primark in Birmingham and Zara in Bristol.
With additional reporting from PA
Emily Atkinson26 December 2021 18:38
Exclusive – ‘A living nightmare’: Burnout could lead to tripling of NHS staff sickness next year
Hospitals could see as many as one in six doctors and nurses off sick throughout 2022, according to modelling, as the Omicron wave of Covid fuels burnout, stress and anxiety among NHS staff.
Days of record Covid numbers – with 119,789 positive tests…
Read More: Covid Omicron latest: Boris Johnson faces crunch decision tomorrow on triggering