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...

@EdithWeston

You can stand with one foot either side of the border in the middle of Hay

Birmingham to Hereford is quite the trek for a pint... I live in neighbouring Worcestershire (Tier 2) and it would take me 30/40 mins to get there - you can add another 30/45 mins on for Birmingham

But it's not an unreasonable journey for a day out, look round the shops, museums and a nice sit down lunch, none of which is an option for anyone in a tier 4 area.

There's a story on the BBC website about people descending on Herefordshire, which seems to have been quite literally put on the map for a lot of people, who won't have given it a second thoght previously.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-55399709

[quote RaymondSpectacles]@EdithWeston

You can stand with one foot either side of the border in the middle of Hay[/quote]
And if the Co-op doesn't have everything you want, so you go to the Spar as well; you've just had an international shopping trip

They need to get their finger out on the Oxford one

If by ‘they’ you mean the MHRA, I am pretty sure they are working on it as hard as they can within the bounds of rigorously examining every detail of the evidence - which is only right and proper.

If by ‘they’ you mean the people responsible for overseeing the distribution and administration, I have every confidence that the arrangements are all in place, waiting only for the green light to be given.

@BarbaraofSeville

That's the pub I was talking about, right there in the article

According to the Times, the plan was for all of Sussex, Lincoln, Stoke on Trent, Rugby and one other place I've forgotten to go into tier 4.

I assume if they decide to keep the tiers, other areas will go up to tier 3.

I used to commute to Hereford from South Birmingham. I don't remember it taking an hour and a half, long time ago but I thought it was just over an hour. I lived on the Birmingham border and from what I remember it was about 30 miles or maybe 35. There was a boy at my sons Birmingham grammar school who travelled from Hereford every day, I'm sure if someone wanted a pint they'd do it but realistically I think they are going into Worcestershire and buying a meal.

I loved Hereford and Herefordshire, well worth a day out anytime.

I would imagine it will be nationwide lockdown from Boxing Day for the foreseeable

Limited hospital facilities and a very elderly population are key issues in Hereford and Herefordshire.

"Tier 4 is a lockdown basically.."

But its not - because schools, colleges and unis are still operating - and happily partying on

a government minister was on TV this morning advising apart from staggered starts, schools would return as normal in January.

I would love to know why they keep stating things like this as fact, when they (and us) are well aware that its a possibility that won't happen. If the numbers shot up to 10% of people infected, no way would schools be going back. The plan may be for them to go back, but things change, and they should know this after the amount of u-turns they have done so far!

Sounds to me like, unless they close schools for a few weeks, it's never going to go away until a bigger chunk of the population is vaccinated, which will take months.

And it makes sense to start the school closures ASAP, to minimise disruption as people will be expecting schools to be closed anyway.

Hence, I would say that a 2 week national lockdown from Boxing Day would be the sensible decision.

@BarbaraofSeville
I would agree but you seem to think we have a competent government?
3 weeks behind the curve every single time...

@lockeddownandcrazy

"Tier 4 is a lockdown basically.." But its not - because schools, colleges and unis are still operating - and happily partying on

Surely all those establishments are closed now and won't open till the start of January? That's when it gets trickier again. What they say and what they will actually do are two different things as well.

If by ‘they’ you mean the people responsible for overseeing the distribution and administration, I have every confidence that the arrangements are all in place, waiting only for the green light to be given.

Many CCGs don't even have the first vaccine yet. Sadly the arrangements are not working, or if they are then the plan was for uneven distribution.

BBC News Special at 2.45pm.

In Wales I loathe Drakeford but what is being done to England is worse imo. If he would only do a Drakeford and say right from boxing day, stay home, send schools back late it would be cruel to be kind if you get my meaning. We were locked down on Friday he will look at it again on 18th January apparently. This is lets be honest to save the NHS who have been on their knees for years in the winter.

BBC1 is rearranging its programming to fit in a BBC News Special at 2.35pm.

Oooh good I've got an hour to do some jobs before the news then.

I am so fed up of this! Just bloody tell us properly or tell your minions to keep their mouths shut!

I had a bout of relief when they announced that we could not meet outside of xmas day. the unknown really unsettles me so I just needed to know either way.
Gutted not to visit properly but have arranged a walk with parents to exchange gifts boxing day. The kids are missing them loads so can burn off their excitement outdoors.

Now We have the uncertainty again today.

The thing is, I don't think they can announce today that we will lockdown from boxing day as people will just meet on mass over the next 48 hours!

Herefordshire sounds idyllic.

bbc news special 14.45

It’s at 2.35 rather then 2.45 according to the BBC1 continuity announcer. Possibly for a 3pm press conference?

*rather than