Borris heading news conference tonight at 5, do we think new restrictions coming?

[Loveatthe5anddime]

Just seen on Sky New there is a news conference tonight at 5, interested to know what will be said...

There hasn’t been the usual rumblings “leaked documents” etc so hopeful just an update, what do we all think?

I agree that it's unlikely to be about restrictions, maybe just a pep talk to make us cheer up a bit?

It will be to announce they are prioritising new treatments for those who are CEV and/or working in critical roles for health and social care so that they can be exempt from self isolation - just got my letter and rapid test on Friday to do this (CEV and Critical Worker).

@Kljnmw3459

I agree that it's unlikely to be about restrictions, maybe just a pep talk to make us cheer up a bit?

He'd cheer me up more if he announced his resignation.

^Tom Newton Dunn
@tnewtondunn
PM to hold a Covid press conference at 5pm. To update the nation on the very rapid spread of Omicron. Some new policy announcements I hear, but no new restrictions.^

He's usually right, so nothing much really.

He is going to tell us how many TA's, Care assistants, Nurses etc spawned on the magical Public Sector staffing tree in Unicorn Land overnight.

Might have to wait a while getting them shipped of course, thanks to Brexit!

The critical incidents are caused by the volume of people having to isolate - not by the volume of people ill either at home or hospital.

It wouldn't surprise me if they (this month) scrap isolation for covid positive cases.

@PeaceONoeuf

Just another opportunity for him to showcase any new long words he’s learned over the Christmas period I expect.

I think he's had his hair cut...

I cant see restrictions/lockdown coming back again 🤞(touch wood) I think hes going to be bold and say this is the mild version we have been waiting for as an exit wave. We need to live with it and push through it. Then give us all the plans hes put in place.

To show his face after his festive jolly hollibobs?!

Keir Starmer did a big press conference thing today, so I think Boris Johnson is doing the press conference to make sure he diverts the news headlines away from that. I've noticed a lot how he tries to control the news.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

The critical incidents are caused by the volume of people having to isolate - not by the volume of people ill either at home or hospital.

It wouldn't surprise me if they (this month) scrap isolation for covid positive cases.

That's not the case in the Trust l work in.

We are expanding Critical Care into Theatres again as so many are ill

@chocolateisavegetable

I expect he wants to show us a video of the 1000s of ex-teachers turning up to help out

That will be 10 teachers, plus a lot of mirrors. And smoke.

Does no one's next door neighbour who has an ex brother in law who is high up in the civil service not have any insider information for us?

It’ll be waffle & bollocks. Whilst I don’t want harsh restrictions my friends who are nurses/midwives/drs are painting pretty terrifying pictures of what’s going on in hospitals at the moment (1 midwife to 4 birthing women??😱😱😱😱!!!)…but I don’t believe they’ll do anything to try to alleviate this. Just pray you don’t need any emergency healthcare seems to be the only thing to do!!!

Hoping for an update on the vaccines for vulnerable 5-11yr olds.

Hoping he'll be announcing his immediate resignation

We are expanding Critical Care into Theatres again as so many are ill

To the same volume as last winter?

Who?

Hospital problems are being caused through staff having to isolate. There's nothing to be done about that, short of shortening/axing isolation. Increasing restrictions won't do anything now. We do indeed have to "muddle through".

@Bordois

Does no one's next door neighbour who has an ex brother in law who is high up in the civil service not have any insider information for us?

My NDN is a hairdresser, I can go and give her a knock and ask?

Last winter most hospitals scaled back non covid treatment and people avoided A&E. This winter hospitals will try to do both.

This long ish thread is well worth a read (has both v encouraging AND worrying news)

twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1478339769646166019?s=21

Twitter are saying that cinemas have stopped taking bookings from Friday so it looks like restrictions from Friday. This is just what twitter is saying - not me.

He's going to announce that the NHS is on the brink of collapse, so he's opening some new Potemkin Nightingale hospitals (the ones with no equipment or staff) and staffing the others by moving people around from one under-resourced hospital to another even-worse affected under-resourced hospital.

And if we could all start clapping again on Thursday, the nasty Covid virus will take fright and flee and yet again, the greased piglet will get away with it.

I don't think there will be any changes. I think their policy is to try to drive for no greater restrictions to be raised in 2022 under any circumstances so they can crow about how they got their first (regardless of the cost to life)

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

The critical incidents are caused by the volume of people having to isolate - not by the volume of people ill either at home or hospital.

It wouldn't surprise me if they (this month) scrap isolation for covid positive cases.

Not quite true at our local Trust. Yes staffing is an issue (and has been for about 10 years so nothing new there). But the bed situation is horrendous, there are many many more sick patients than usual, not necessarily Covid (or Covid not being the main reason for admission), but very sick anyway. They have declared critical incidents 3 times in the last month! They have opened 3 extra wards - existing staff just have to stretch themselves even thinner.