News conference at 5pm [titled edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[toolazytothinkofausername]

I'm watching Sky News, and they have said there will be a news conference this afternoon... but why do they never say at what time? I've also had this on BBC news too previously. It is so infuriating

YANBU- It is annoying they do not specify a time.
YABU- In 2021 you should search the internet to find it yourself.

I do not know how to do AIBU polls. One day I will figure it out and add it on.

@Againstmachine

I have never given up wearing masks and gloves - EVERY SINGLE TIME I go into a shop.

Fair enough masks gloves are entirely pointless

Why do you say that? I put on a brand new pair of gloves for a supermarket visit and take them off into a special bag in the boot of my car before I get in and sanitise my hands. The trolleys have always been a happy harbour for germs!

@NeverSurrender

BJ said for close contacts of the new strain to isolate, but how would we know which strain we had? Presumably there would be a delay where people were mixing before they found out?

Apparently there is a marker that almost all the labs use as standard that indicates it is omicrom - they don't have to go for full genome testing?

Oh good, "stay safe" is back 🤮😩😩

@bordermidgebite

Close contact to omicron is isolation even if you had a vaccination

With no announcement as to how this will be managed /financed

As good a way as any of dissuading people from doing a test.

If you are travelling back to the uk between Christmas and new year (which is a particularly peak time) i think you will have a nightmare with pcrs.

Firstly increased demand on labs when labs may have people off on Christmas leave.
Booking a pcr is going to be a pain in the backside.
I have a feeling getting back results promptly is going to be an issue - keeping in mind the above and the fact you are supposed to isolate.

That means people will ignore the isolation period. Especially if they have to be back in work / are seeing family members (lots of people coming to the uk to see family over Christmas)

I'm not sure I'd fancy going!

@AutumnAlmanack the risk of catching covid from touch alone is extermely low, and tbh just sanitising on the way in and out is sufficient anyway for that residual risk.

I'm wondering that as DH just arrived back here this morning. The PCR booking website hasn't been updated to allow you to select a returning to U.K. option.

Which website? Not the NHS one, as that's not for travellers anyway.

They need to book and pay for PCR tests privately, like we had to in the summer. I expect that people arriving back in the next day or two will have to book before they travel to get the code from a private company, and those who've already booked a lateral flow will end up having to pay twice.

@toomuchlaundry

I assume some people may be regretting get rid of their masks in the summer

And a load more digging them out from the bottom of various handbags and pockets where they've been hanging around since then!

@PurpleDaisies

It means the questions and answers will be male-centred, with no thought for concerns that typically affect women and children.

What would you have liked them to have asked?

To be fair to David Maddox, he did ask about children and vaccines, and he and his wife have children I believe.

Having said that, I would have liked to have seen a greater diversity of political reporters, yes.

Why do you say that? I put on a brand new pair of gloves for a supermarket visit and take them off into a special bag in the boot of my car before I get in and sanitise my hands. The trolleys have always been a happy harbour for germs!

You may as well just sanatize your hands, why are you sanatiseing your hands if the gloves work.

FFS. Why are our borders bloody open for people to keep bringing other variants in? Are their rights to have a fucking holiday more important than those of us trying to keep a bloody business running and staff employed?

I honestly am beyond despair tonight.

Oh well I'm glad I didn't get rid of my exemption lanyard. Review in 3 weeks time though is just in time for Christmas lockdown.

@RubyTuesday70

FFS. Why are our borders bloody open for people to keep bringing other variants in? Are their rights to have a fucking holiday more important than those of us trying to keep a bloody business running and staff employed?

I honestly am beyond despair tonight.

You know many people work in the travel industry, right? Are their jobs not important?

Borders still open, yep, they really learnt a lot from past fuckups (or not) just like they said they would
Its a pile of incompetent bullshit yet again..

I do think it was an error moving away from testing for incoming travellers - then the sequencing would have been happening.

Don't really understand why you don't have to test as a vaccinated person - yes chance of carrying/transmitting is lower - but still significant.

@RubyTuesday70

FFS. Why are our borders bloody open for people to keep bringing other variants in? Are their rights to have a fucking holiday more important than those of us trying to keep a bloody business running and staff employed?

I honestly am beyond despair tonight.

I knew this would happen. Those male journalists asking over and over why we weren't having more restrictions, just to try and be hard hitting Paxman/Marr types. It all drips down leaving people begging for their lives to be restricted again.

I DISPAIR! LOCKDOWN NOW!

Oh no, we aren't back in despair are we?

@Againstmachine

Why do you say that? I put on a brand new pair of gloves for a supermarket visit and take them off into a special bag in the boot of my car before I get in and sanitise my hands. The trolleys have always been a happy harbour for germs!

You may as well just sanatize your hands, why are you sanatiseing your hands if the gloves work.

This!

I can only see heavy restrictions coming in if the varient is much more serious or really bypasses vaccines. If it's much more serious, most won't wait for a government order to stop visiting restaurants and clothing shops. People will take the initiative just like when it first hit and people started removing children from schools before the date they'd close.

Luckily there's no evidence this new varient will be more serious. It would be great if it were way more mild even if it spreads easier.

I notice they did thank the S . Africa authorities for keeping the world informed about this variant . Which is more than our Government did with the Kent variant which they sat on for two months .

I am not sure people will stick to the isolation period. It's all to easy to say you've been in contact with a normal covid case etc.

I can see someone in the Gov saying next week it's down to the people to follow the rules to save Christmas. Except most people won't and in 3 weeks time we'll lock down on 18th for a minimum 3 week period.

@Isitreallyme177

Oh well I'm glad I didn't get rid of my exemption lanyard. Review in 3 weeks time though is just in time for Christmas lockdown.

Isn't life strange at times? I have a lanyard explaining why I do wear a mask in shops etc, as so many people roll their eyes at me for wearing one. It explains I have a weak immune system.

OTOH masks are a real problem for me because I rely very much on lip-reading ...

I wish you well, anyway. I hope this Omi-var is mild and, if so, becomes dominant. It might be the best hope we've got.

@plinkplinkfizzer

I notice they did thank the S . Africa authorities for keeping the world informed about this variant . Which is more than our Government did with the Kent variant which they sat on for two months .

Which two months do you mean?

@rrhuth thank you, I must've missed that bit