8th Dec 6pm press conference

[PurpleDaisies]

Whitty
Vallance
Johnson

I wonder what they’ll say.

At least he actually seems like he understands what he's saying this time and answering a question without bumbling like a muppet.

They show a lot of graphs and they go on a lot about the number of 2nd doses, the number of boosters, the number of people in hospital. They go on about people getting their boosters.

Anyone else noticed that they don't tell us how many unvaccinated people there are, what percentage of those currently in hospital are unvaccinated, and there is no attempt to persuade the vaccine refusers to change their minds and get vaccinated.

Very odd.

I wil still wear one btw i just dont understand the logic

How awful that such poor measures were taken about Omicron and travel last week, with the delay, and against the advice of Sage, and now find we are in a situation where the new variant is ramping away. I'm very unhappy about it.

I haven't been able to watch, but have they made any mention of anything to protect* children/schools given that they're now the largest unvaccinated population?

*not lockdown/school closures but achievable measures like improved ventiliation/air filtration and masks in classes? I understand that there are a small number who hate the idea of their kids wearing masks, but lots of kids at work have actually asked if we can. They want schools to stay open too, especially the year 10s and 11s. They would much prefer masks over more school closures as the mock/exam panic is getting real.

Pretty much what we're doing in Scotland, bet wee Krankie is cackling away!

We won't need endless boosters for covid passes , as was feared

If you look at Europe the passports all came in for large events, with a testing option. All been massively expanded to impact most areas of life, some countries have removed the testing option and now the vaccine mandates have started.

Waffle waffle waffle

@whynotwhatknot

And what is the point of masks if you dont have to wear them everywhere just shops and transport-you can go a cncert with thousands and still not wear one

You can't.

Boris just said masks everywhere indoors and covid pass to access things like concerts

It's going to go through the population whatever we do so any restrictions are totally pointless

Both my husband and I are triple jabbed and have been reasonably careful with whom we see, avoided busy places etc etc.

We both currently have covid which has manifested as a mild cold. There is no way now of stopping this. I only tested as I was going to a class that night. Unless everyone with a runny nose and sneezes isolates and tests it's a lost cause.

@LittlestLightOnTheXmasTree

Working from home has never stopped so must be more than that

It has for most people I'd have thought. The majority of people I know are now full time back in work places, a handful are part time in work/part time at home. I only know one person wfh fully now and that's because their clients are mainly still abroad.

@paranoidnamechanger

Because cases are rising and Omicron hospitalisations in SA are rising rapidly.

Yes but their vaccination rate is much lower than ours.

Just deal with the facts - things were close to bad with Delta, Omicron is worse. Things are worse.

It is shit but it is happening.

Oo well done Laura, elephant in the room time..

@Kshhuxnxk

Pretty much what we're doing in Scotland, bet wee Krankie is cackling away!

Wouldn't blame her if she is

@whynotwhatknot

And what is the point of masks if you dont have to wear them everywhere just shops and transport-you can go a cncert with thousands and still not wear one

I thought he'd said we need to wear them indoors everywhere again but the toddler kept talking to me so I may have misheard!

Well one journalist just asked about making vaccine mandatory - was that likely - and Boris said that he didn't want us to go down that route, but that despite the fact that the 'wonderful British public' have rolled up their sleeves, there is still a significant proportion of people who remain unjabbed, and that the country will need to have a 'conversation' about how to move forward. But it all depends on how things go with Omicron.

Anyone else noticed that they don't tell us how many unvaccinated people there are, what percentage of those currently in hospital are unvaccinated, and there is no attempt to persuade the vaccine refusers to change their minds and get vaccinated

6.2 millon have not had a first dose, from memory. And apparently the attempt to change minds is to call us extremists and talk about deradicalising us.

If you add in those that didn't take a second dose it's obviously higher and then there will be a number of double-vaccinated opting not to take up the booster so in total I suppose around 10 million maybe?

ok fair enough although it didnt seem to work at the steps concert last week did it

@Theunamedcat

Ffs people are panicking again in my area I can hear the cars streaming down to the shops 😑 I hate living on a main road

Oh can you, aye

Someone posted he said it's urgent

When is it in place for? Tomorrow morning?

@GreenLunchBox

Too much to expect sadly.

Go Laura K - put him on the spot! He's rambling on about COP now.

Both DP and I are still fully wfh. So no change then.

What isnt being said is that South Africa has had fairly high levels of NPIs throughout this and Level 1 (which is where they are) than our Plan B. And it is still rife. Because there is actually very little that can stop it. It is all about managing our way through to try and spread it out as much as possible - still the same plan as Delta just tweaked for Omicron. We cannot outrun or escape this.

@Malteser71

Didn’t you notice the bit where he said ‘the nhs covid app pass will still be available after only two vaccinations, for now.’

So in future they won’t be valid unless you’ve had a booster, too

Yes, that's the same I think as most countries which already have the pass system. Once your original two doses have expired, so does your pass if you don't get the booster. I'm guessing that's all the booster/pass comment means.

@EnnAndJay

Doubling time of two days = 90000 cases of Omicron in two weeks time.

And they're doing fuck all to stop it.

The numbers are