When will there be an update?

[ShepherdMoons]

I thought yesterday they were going to give us the update about what will happen regarding restrictions?

I'd rather know than just be left in the dark. I don't mind whether we have a lockdown, circuit breaker or something else but I'd just like to know!

Honestly, I think they're hanging on because they're hoping for more/better data suggesting Omicron is significantly milder so we won't need a lockdown. I think they know they can't Christmas because after the recent leaks about their antics last year, no one will comply - and by 26th/27th they may be able to say "look, barely a blip in hospital figures, so masks and wfh are enough".

The thing that scares me is that we don't yet have enough information to know if that's going to be the case, but by the time we do, it will be rather too late if the opposite proves true.

*can't cancel Christmas

The media are working us all up into a frenzy about lockdowns.

Yes the case numbers are extremely high but we've all been vaccinated and are now getting boosters at a rapid rate.

So these cases may not result in such high hospital admission.

Even if we do a so called circuit breaker. The minute you release restrictions cases will shoot back up.

You'll only slow it down with another long and painful lockdown.

Are we going to do the lockdown Hokey Cokey every year now?

It's the boosters that will save us.

we don't know enough about the effects of the new variant on vaccinated people, I'd be happier with a cautious approach and then when more data is available things could be more relaxed. I'm thinking of vulnerable people and older people.

I'm just assuming that some measures will come in after Christmas and Happy New Year won't be so happy

They couldn't come to a decision yesterday so I'm not sure what happens next, leave us hanging on panicking it seems 🤔

We don't have the data.

But please can you try to remember that lockdowns also have an enormous effect on peoples health, finances, things such as DV, child abuse, mental health and much much more.

The media is playing its part here. My money is on restrictions from Boxing Day.

Honestly, I think they're hanging on because they're hoping for more/better data suggesting Omicron is significantly milder so we won't need a lockdown. I think they know they can't Christmas because after the recent leaks about their antics last year, no one will comply - and by 26th/27th they may be able to say "look, barely a blip in hospital figures, so masks and wfh are enough".

I am so hoping this to be the case. I keep reading thread after thread on here about it. I need to stop really as I am feeling lower and lower every time someone authoritatively states that there’s definitely going to be a lockdown or schools are definitely going to close.

I worry about my parents’ mental health if they are not able to get out and about. I worry about my elderly aunt’s mental health who lives with my uncle who has dementia if she isn’t able to have her very occasional meal out with her friends and family visiting to keep her going. And I worry for my teen DCs who are looking at having all the things they love being cancelled again. There’s no easy answer I know. Just thoroughly fed up with it.

Ministers were briefed yesterday and there’s sneering of COBRA today, I’m thinking they’ll be an announcement or news conference later today or tomorrow.

I doubt Boris will go for complete lockdown, even a short one, yet , mainly because he is in big trouble with his backbenchers and that matters more to him than the general public getting ill or dying.

• a meeting of COBRA!

Actually have just seen Javid has said ‘we’ll do what we have’, and that it ‘may already be too late’ with omicron.

Sounds like something major is about to be announced then.

@Iceskatequeen

Even if we do a so called circuit breaker. The minute you release restrictions cases will shoot back up.

You'll only slow it down with another long and painful lockdown.

Are we going to do the lockdown Hokey Cokey every year now?

It's the boosters that will save us.

Surely this is the point - by end January most people will have had their boosters and immunity will have kicked in, so it's just about getting through to then. Very different from Nov 2020 short lockdown when no one had been vaccinated so cases continued to soar as soon it as was over.

There's a major split in the cabinet, according to the Telegraph. Still disagreement on next steps.

Surely any lockdown will be after 27th so people can get home? I’ll be travelling on the 27th - can’t catch trains on Boxing Day.

Yes, it's really annoying. We're supposed to be going up to Scotland next Wednesday for a Hogmany 4 day celebration. I feel for the hotel having to make plans and not knowing if everything is going to be cancelled at the last minute

@SpringheelJack

Honestly, I think they're hanging on because they're hoping for more/better data suggesting Omicron is significantly milder so we won't need a lockdown. I think they know they can't Christmas because after the recent leaks about their antics last year, no one will comply - and by 26th/27th they may be able to say "look, barely a blip in hospital figures, so masks and wfh are enough".

The thing that scares me is that we don't yet have enough information to know if that's going to be the case, but by the time we do, it will be rather too late if the opposite proves true.

Yep this sums up my thoughts too. Deaths not rising yet - in fact the opposite over last few days. I think next week or so will make it all clearer. My worry is that the Covid death count will go up purely because so many people arriving at hospital for other reasons test positive for Covid - not that that is why they die. We already know they don't distinguish for the purposes of the figures. So it needs to be based on a true metric such as people in ITU due to Covid. Everyone needs to get bloody jabbed. I'm incredulous that 2/3 of Londoners are still not vaccinated. That, I fear, is what will grind the NHS to halt and shut down life for us all. I can't get my head around a blanket school closure - that has been so disastrous for so many. I PRAY it doesn't come to that.

Apologies - I meant only 2/3 of Londoners are vaccinated.

BBC:
When asked about the impact of the latest political events on potential future restrictions he said: "I think that the British people do understand that this pandemic requires extraordinary actions."

(Javid on the Marr Show)

I think they need to make an announcement of some kind in the next 24-48 hours. Be that via a press conference or an evening address. All this speculation is causing additional distress to people. There are clearly discussions going on behind the scenes and someone needs to come out and give it to everyone straight.

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

Surely any lockdown will be after 27th so people can get home? I’ll be travelling on the 27th - can’t catch trains on Boxing Day.

Yes DS is coming to us on Christmas Eve and going back by train on 27th, trains don't generally run on Boxing Day so he will be doing that whatever

Cabinet leaking all over the place saying they are split on a decision. It’s not going to be a science decision it’s going to be political. Horrible feeling they’ll vacillate for a few days and then ban household mixing rather than letting people know sooner.

That’s my worry @Legoninjago1, omicron is so transmissible that once it gets in to a hospital it will surely spread like wildfire. Then you’ll have all these stats about thousands of people being admitted to hospitals because of omicron when that won’t be the case at all.

If we are making decisions that have huge implications on businesses and livelihoods then I want complete transparency on hospital figures. Not incidental admissions all lumped together.