Breaking News - Press conference

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I almost can’t stand it. What the hell will they be announcing now?

@Matilda03

I'm guessing they'll really stress this new strain and how it now means that tier 3 areas are being put under a travel ban. Some people I know have already started their Christmas mixing so not sure they can fully cancel it.

I’m thinking it’ll be about this variant strain.

Let's hope it doesn't delay Strictly again. grin

That’ll be the upside for me, I don’t normally watch it til later - I might get the chance to vote tonight

@tootyfruitypickle

He’s got to cancel the bubble idea. It’s madness.

Johnson's gutless though, so he won't.

He'll just talk about the Cavalry over the horizon / next valley / spaffle / waffle / piffle / Alas alas alas ...

And then Blame the Public (& probs Teachers) for the car crash of Jan

I thjnk they should never have made these plans. It's all the backtracking that I find so stressful.

Bbc has just announced news special 15:30

I think they will lose compliance and cooperation with the wider framework of restrictions if they take away the Christmas easing. That prospect very much troubles me. For that reason, I hope it is to announce post-Christmas restrictions instead.

Boris has snnounced Downing Street briefing at 16:00

CMO confirms new strain can spread more quickly

This new strain thing seems legit. Multiple mutations on the spike protein that make it more contagious.

It sounds like he’s been presented with some new info, panicked, and this is the outcome.

I think a lot of people are under family pressure to meet and would welcome it being cancelled tbh.

He should announce more bank holidays in May and ask people to try and hold on.

Hope he’s on time for this one

Idiots. Everybody knew this Christmas 4 days will only make everything worse.

If they renegade on the Christmas plans the cynic in me knows none of them will follow it. However, we will only find out after the fact so for any meer mortal who cancels their plans it would be too little, too late.

@poshme

How would I catch the virus when I'm not seeing anyone?

The people coming to visit me have been at home- going nowhere for 10 days so far. No shopping, no visits, nothing.

How are they a risk?

The rules aren't specific to any one person or family situation, you must know that.

Like everyone else I have no idea what will be anounced but if it's to do with a new more contagious strain then of course the need to react to that.

😫

@Em777

This new strain thing seems legit. Multiple mutations on the spike protein that make it more contagious.

Has anyone seen any news yet on a potential threat to the vaccine(s)? That would be the most terrible thing, gives us no way out (for the foreseeable) :(

@MarshaBradyo what you said !

@Matilda03

I'm guessing they'll really stress this new strain and how it now means that tier 3 areas are being put under a travel ban. Some people I know have already started their Christmas mixing so not sure they can fully cancel it.

They did this with Eid in the North West though, so they can if they need to.

Well, what’s bunglecunt got to say now 🤔

What do people think the announcement will be?

Options seem to be:
Ban on household mixing (except support bubbles)
Ban on travel out of Tier 3/ban on travel to lower tiers/between tiers
Lockdown post-christmas (but why announce now?)

@poshme

I don't think he should cancel bubbles.

Some of us have begun carefully self isolating & reducing contacts so we can see family in 4 days.

Some of us have been following the rules to the letter and are desperate to see family.

If he cancels bubbles people will just ignore the rules.

Some people will, some people won't. I think it's getting so bad that if even 50% of people follow the rules it's going to help.

Underground having a complete shutdown seems a possibility.

Banning travel in SE will surely result in a lot of MPs and Ministers being caught out bending the rules...

I could be completely screwed. My mother has been in lockdown with us since March, but had to go back to her home (200 miles away) at the start of December for medical appointments plus a couple of other things which were going to be hard to rearrange. I drove her home (I lost my job due to Covid) and returned to my home, the plan being to go there for Christmas. As a result I have limited fresh food in (plenty of tins), no tree, and a toddler...

The announcement will be just before strictly, same as last time.

@Dadnotamum72

Underground having a complete shutdown seems a possibility.

Lots of local reports here in London are suggesting this will be included in the announcement tonight.