Announcement today (Wed)?

[Mammamiaherewegoagainmymy]

Looks like they'll be an announcement of new restrictions today - ministers meeting this morning so (despite papers last night) doesn't seem they've decided what to do yet - more places in Tier 4 or national lockdown, maybe.

Robert Jenrick quoted in Guardian today saying 'A judgment needs to be made as to whether the tiered system is strong enough, or whether at some point in the future we need to take further action.' which sounds a bit ominous...

Happily going from Tier 2 to 3, I'd prefer 4 as we're surrounded tbh.

He knows how bad it's been for everyone. Worse because of Mr Johnson's inactions on several occasions.

@helloxhristmas

Why the fuck wait until Boxing Day?

Another new strain is very concerning IMO.

Not sure? Maybe they think they can contain these variants?

@idontknowaboutmortgages

He sincerely hopes this the last one before Christmas. The fact he had to say that!

I thought that was a really odd thing to say! What the hell could change in 24 hours? Actually hang on, I don’t want to know the answer to that!

The only thing I've read about the South African strain is that it was fuelled by teen parties and is possibly more dangerous to younger people. Does anyone else have more information on it?

@Jenasaurus

www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-variant-south-africa-spread/

Looks like it is causing more serious illness in younger people

That doesn't sound good. I guess that's probably why he didn't go into details. If he'd mentioned this there would be more questions about closing schools.

Wait, I missed it. Is thay a SECOND new strain? and is there a lockdown? What's rhebquarantine immediately thing?

The Zoe app was showing us with magically plunging numbers a few days ago, all the time cases rising.

Now we are Tier 4

I know the hospital is overwhelmed (and we do not have much capacity within our area as you have to go out of area, where there is more covid, for serious issues).

@SansaSnark I definitely got the impression something else was different about this strain

Tier 4 is nowhere near strict enough. We are in for a terrible January if they don’t stop people from working outside the home again.

"From 00:01 on Boxing Day, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, those parts in Essex not already in tier four, Waverley in Surrey, and Hampshire - including Portsmouth and Southampton but with the exception of the New Forest - will be escalated to tier four.

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset (including the North Somerset area), Swindon, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest and Northamptonshire, as well as Cheshire and Warrington, will be escalated to tier three."

Did he just laugh when thanking people?, or did he forget his colleagues name as he sounded like he was going to say ' Anne' but then said 'my colleagues in the room'.

@NoSuchThingAsCheese

Wait, I missed it. Is thay a SECOND new strain? and is there a lockdown? What's rhebquarantine immediately thing?

If you, or a close contact have been to South Africa in the last fortnight you have to quarantine immediately due to the new strain.

I just missed the start of this. What areas will be going to tier 4?

Looks like tier 4 for us then - bugger there goes our New Year’s Eve dinner out
Oh well roll on spring

[quote SabrinaTheMiddleAgedBitch]@SansaSnark I definitely got the impression something else was different about this strain [/quote]
Me too.

I feel awful for the first time because I don't know if we will have pressure on us to send dc into school and myself into work.

He doesn't deliver news well he sounds absolutely terrified.

There doesn’t need to be more to it, the sheer potential impact of this strain which is more transferable than the previous strain is enough to upset or worry anyone

@Gobacktothe90s

I just missed the start of this. What areas will be going to tier 4?

Copied from @lljkk * "From 00:01 on Boxing Day, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, those parts in Essex not already in tier four, Waverley in Surrey, and Hampshire - including Portsmouth and Southampton but with the exception of the New Forest - will be escalated to tier four.

Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset (including the North Somerset area), Swindon, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest and Northamptonshire, as well as Cheshire and Warrington, will be escalated to tier three."*

I would like him to be clear and specific about schools.

They must know by now what the decision is, just tell us now, not the day before we’re due to start.

@User647647

I would like him to be clear and specific about schools.

They must know by now what the decision is, just tell us now, not the day before we’re due to start.

They don't say anything I bet. :(

Well I live in the 3rd highest tier 3 place and somehow we’ve stayed in tier 3. We are higher rates than the places just moved to tier 4.

HandCock's doing a good job of presenting it.
I can't stand him, but he's coming across better than BJ (not much...)
Will it he make it to the end without crying? OH, he laughed...

so, maybe NOT the last presser before Xmas?
And also, this new new strain must be scary for this Govt to act fast!

How do I apply to live in New Zealand?

I can't take anymore