No new measures in England before New Year

[Jourdain11]

Has just been announced by the Health Secretary and reported across BBC etc.

The fact is, enough people I think will stay away to the point many business may struggle regardless.

I don't know if this is a good idea. Let's see

And also on affording it - Brexit is going to cost many times more than the entire cost of covid - there is so much money available for political priorities, as well as for crony contracts.

@curlymom

Not ideal. Go mixing and evaluate just before schools reopen. Children will be the ones who ultimately suffer for the sake of New Years parties

haha quite - schools are the top priority... after everything else!

@the80sweregreat

The government obviously feel that things can tick along now till next weekend in England Either the devolved governments will look too cautious and wrong to do what they are doing , or it'll go wrong in England and Boris Johnson will be seen not to be doing enough and it'll be carnage. Among people I know many are against further restrictions, get on with it all is the general opinion and people just want it to go away I'm not sure , the NHS must be exhausted and many are off in isolation too :( Not sure what to think ?

No, the government are scared of their backbenchers and party sponsors.

Maybe the overall view from analysts is that further restrictions are not required, or strongly indicating that?

Are teaching unions likely to want restrictions when term starts agian?

@rrhuth

And also on affording it - Brexit is going to cost many times more than the entire cost of covid - there is so much money available for political priorities, as well as for crony contracts.

Excellent points.

'Affording it' only gets trotted out when it's something they don't want to do.

It was obvious the cost of brexit was going to be huge. Has anyone else noticed how much more their weekly food shop costs? How businesses are coping with these costs, as well as the shortages, I don't know.

The government have said many times recently that they make the decisions, not the scientists

@rrhuth

And also on affording it - Brexit is going to cost many times more than the entire cost of covid - there is so much money available for political priorities, as well as for crony contracts.

Totally agree

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

Are teaching unions likely to want restrictions when term starts agian?

Yes, but they're unlikely to get them, sadly.

I've no doubt that Rishi sunak couldn't give a monkeys about hospitality now.
Big businesses such as the supermarkets haven't taken a hit , many other big retail companies are still trading , as long as that all goes on then they are happy.
He warned parliament about the cost of the booster programme etc , he just wants the money rolling in. I do understand why , the NHS wouldn't exist without a strong economy and he has to cave in to the devolved governments last weekend with money too, but it's still a gamble with people's health too. The stats must be holding up to do this.
People won't care now too.
Testing might go on the back burners too
I think people just want to get on with it now.
Have to see what happens now.

lockdown again!!

Totally agree that today's decision was based on political strategy.

Bet Boris didn’t want to cancel NY. Might be carnage in schools the following week. Fingers crossed it will work out. Not sure it is a good idea relying on people’s common sense, as that hasn’t worked in the past

@the80sweregreat

I've no doubt that Rishi sunak couldn't give a monkeys about hospitality now. Big businesses such as the supermarkets haven't taken a hit , many other big retail companies are still trading , as long as that all goes on then they are happy. He warned parliament about the cost of the booster programme etc , he just wants the money rolling in. I do understand why , the NHS wouldn't exist without a strong economy and he has to cave in to the devolved governments last weekend with money too, but it's still a gamble with people's health too. The stats must be holding up to do this. People won't care now too. Testing might go on the back burners too I think people just want to get on with it now. Have to see what happens now.

Demand has dropped which has cost another £1bn in support recently

So yes it has been expensive so far

I think we are all going to pay for this decision come January ☹️

@RoseRedRoseBlue

I think we are all going to pay for this decision come January ☹️

We might not though ? This is what they have to weigh up I agree it's a political decision though.

@Jourdain11

Maybe the overall view from analysts is that further restrictions are not required, or strongly indicating that?

Hmm, not sure about 'analysts' but Graham Brady doesn't think restrictions are required. Advisors have been pretty clear so far.

Also - why would Scotland/Wales/NI follow one course and England not if the advice from advisors was that restrictions were not needed?

The difference is that Johnson's position depends on appeasing the thick twats right wing of his party.

Great news. Hopefully no restrictions ever again!

It's a good decision and I hope the government continues to hold its nerve. We can't keep restricting people for an illness with an almost 100% survival rate. If you're scared, you should be the one to stay at home. Let the rest of us live normal lives.

Oh yes,this is a political decision , nothing to do with people's health
Many are capable of common sense and doing the right things , but many don't care at all and this is just a big gamble , let the people have Christmas and new year and fingers crossed it might be ok in January
It might be or it might not ?
We have been warned about tsunami's and tidal waves etc ( even Johnson said that Omnicron isn't be necessarily mild) but obviously money trumps everything too and he knows that another lockdown is very unpopular
too.

I’m glad there are no announcements but I worry the “please be cautious” will have a massive impact on hospitality as it did prior to Christmas.

I've no doubt that hospitality will suffer :(
As I said below , Sunak doesn't care because he won't be paying anyone's wages.

@humdingle

It's a good decision and I hope the government continues to hold its nerve. We can't keep restricting people for an illness with an almost 100% survival rate. If you're scared, you should be the one to stay at home. Let the rest of us live normal lives.

Agree.