New Year’s Eve Covid-19 restrictions are becoming increasingly unlikely, UK Government sources said today with new data suggesting the omicron variant is far milder than delta.
It is the “working assumption” among key Whitehall figures that Boris Johnson will not levy further legal restrictions on socialising in the weeks following Christmas, several papers reported although this might change should data worsen significantly.
The risk of hospitalisation of the new variant is thought to be 50%-70% lower than the delta strain, while the risk of admission to accident and emergency (A&E) is 31%-45% lower when one develops omicron, said the UK Health Secretary Agency (UKHSA).
Some 119,789 new cases of Covid were recorded yesterday – the highest throughout the ongoing near two-year pandemic.
“We’re not going to make a decision about after Christmas until after Christmas [and] we’re not at that stage yet of being in a place to make a decision about whether any further restrictions are necessary,” a government source was quoted as saying.
Sajid Javid reinforced yesterday that no announcements on coming regulations would be made this week, making Monday the earliest date that any formal announcement could be given regarding New Year celebrations.
It is thought that the Prime Minister (PM) has 28 December in mind as the most feasible day to recall the Commons next week to discuss such matters.