Ministers are reportedly considering extending vaccine passports to pubs and restaurants in a bid to tackle Omicron after new data showed boosters are crucial in beating the variant.
Under the government’s Plan B announced this week, people will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test if they want to go to large events such as nightclubs and concerts.
But according to The Times, the Government’s scientific advisors want to extend the measure to any public place amid surging Covid cases.
A number of new restrictions are said to be under consideration, including requiring people to check in at venues, mandatory face masks in secondary school classrooms and extending vaccine passports to hospitality venues.
The so-called ‘Plan C’ could also see the return of isolation for contacts of all confirmed coronavirus cases – a policy implemented in Scotland yesterday by Nicola Sturgeon.
The First Minister said the UK was facing a ‘tsunami of infections’ as daily cases reached the highest number since January.
What are the new rules for Vaccine passports in England?
Subject to approval by MPs, from Wednesday December 15, people in England will need to use the NHS Covid pass if they want to go to:
- Nightclubs
- Indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people
- Unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people
- Any venue with more than 10,000 people
People who are not fully vaccinated will be able to show proof of a recent negative lateral flow test instead.
One scientific adviser told The Times a return of isolation for contacts and a requirement for a negative test to enter public places would be an effective ‘next step’, adding: ‘There might have to be something else, but it might keep us going to January.’
But Boris Johnson, who is embroiled in a snowballing scandal about Downing Street parties during last winter’s lockdowns, is said to be reluctant for further measures.
There are fears reintroducing the 10-day isolation will lead to the ‘pingdemic’ that brought much of the country to a standstill over summer as hundreds of thousands of people had to self-isolate, leading to food shortages and transport chaos.
The possibility of tougher measures will also infuriate many Conservative backbenchers who already oppose the current ‘Plan B’.
The embattled prime minister is facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership next week over plans for vaccine passports at large events, with more than 60 Tory MPs expected to vote against the new rules.
However, scientists have warned the world faces a ‘pandemic 2.0’ if the threat of Omicron is not taken seriously.
The UK’s Health Security Agency (HSA) said yesterday that Omicron is expected to become the dominant strain in the UK within days and cases could hit one million by the end of the month.
The experts said having two doses of a Covid vaccine offers less defence against infection from the new variant than with Delta, the previous dominant strain.
Dr Susan Hopkins, the UKHSA’s chief medical adviser, said: ‘I think what we’re seeing is that if you’ve had two doses more than three months ago, then it’s not going to prevent you from getting symptomatic disease.’
However, the HSA found that having a third dose prevents about 75% of people from getting any Covid symptoms.
The data has promoted fresh calls for those who are eligible to come forward for their booster.
But with only a third of the population having had a booster jab and infections doubling every two or three days, ministers have indicated more restrictions could come in the mean time.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove warned of a ‘deeply concerning situation’ after holding an emergency Cobra meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the latest data and the co-ordinated response across the four nations.
He said that ministers had been ‘presented with some very challenging new information,’ adding: ‘Action is absolutely required, and as new data comes in we will consider what action we do require to take in the face of that data’.
Although he didn’t say what measures could come next, sources said the situation was ‘deeply concerning’ and ‘all options are on the table’.
It comes HAS document, leaked to the Guardian, called for ‘stringent action’ on or before December 18 to stop the NHS being overwhelmed with up to 5,000 people being admitted to hospital each day.
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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vbWV0cm8uY28udWsvMjAyMS8xMi8xMS9jb3ZpZC12YWNjaW5lLXBhc3Nwb3J0cy1jb3VsZC1iZS1leHRlbmRlZC10by1wdWJzLWFuZC1yZXN0YXVyYW50cy10by1zbG93LW9taWNyb24tMTU3NTM5MzMv0gEA?oc=5
2021-12-11 08:15:00Z
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