Are we expecting a press conference today?

[StealthPolarBear]

Presumably today the dashboard will resume. Is there an announcement planned or just rumours so far?

@Motorina

The rumour is Boris is reviewing the data today. Presumably with someone who doesn’t have to remove their socks to count to 20. And will make a decision from there.

I’m guessing that decision will be leaked during the day. We’ll know more then.

That really made me laugh

@Florianus

Not true that nothing can happen without a government vote.

Previously lockdown decisions have been made on the spot and the actual vote happened several days later retrospectively.

Also the cabinet does have the power to make decisions without any vote at all- I believe this is what happened with the very first lockdown.

However with the current state of affairs I think it’s unlikely Boris would do anything that he doesn’t think he could push past his backbenchers, regardless of what is in the public health interest. Relying on Labour again is just too embarrassing.

[quote Onandoff]@MerryChristmas21 yes, mostly severe immune suppression (certain blood cancers) or very elderly (late 80s and above). People who didn’t make great response to vaccines. Most are recovering. Far, far fewer admitted are triple vaccinated than those single or double vaccinated. Triple vaccinated admissions are quite a rarity and seem to recover quickly.[/quote]
@Onandoff. Thank you for your reply x. Obviously it's incredibly sad anyone is dying (from anything!) but selfishly It's also some relief that being triple jabbed really does seem to be helping people with my underlying. Bit worrying they're saying that's reduced from 10 weeks and I'm nearly at 10 weeks :/

No because they would need to recall parliament and no 10 has run out of cheese and wine

It seems not, thankfully

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59804686

Rishi says nothing til New Year at least....

[quote Frazzled2207]@Florianus

Not true that nothing can happen without a government vote.

Previously lockdown decisions have been made on the spot and the actual vote happened several days later retrospectively.

Also the cabinet does have the power to make decisions without any vote at all- I believe this is what happened with the very first lockdown.

However with the current state of affairs I think it’s unlikely Boris would do anything that he doesn’t think he could push past his backbenchers, regardless of what is in the public health interest. Relying on Labour again is just too embarrassing.[/quote]
I know what has happened in the past, but this time around (and following the revolt by some 80 of his MPs before Christmas) the PM promised MPs that no legally binding curbs will come into force until Parliament has had a chance to vote on them.

Fair point but I don’t trust Boris to deliver on anything he promised

Thread on all the delays etc with estimates of what the true figures might be up to today:

twitter.com/fascinatorfun/status/1475501795074060293?s=21

Sorry, wrong thread - but it may be of interest to some!

@Frazzled2207

Fair point but I don’t trust Boris to deliver on anything he promised

Members of the cabinet, including Health Secretary Sajid Javid and George Eustace, have also confirmed that no new restrictions are planned before the new year. Personally, I doubt that there will be any in the new year, unless things change dramatically. Omicron has not overwhelmed the NHS, as some predicted - in fact, hospital admissions for Covid are more than 50% lower than this time last year.

in fact, hospital admissions for Covid are more than 50% lower than this time last year

Do you mean 50% lower in terms of a) absolute numbers or b) rate per number of positive tests?