England will have no further Covid restrictions until after the New Year.

Well most of the major cities -Athens, Berlin, Paris, London, Rome- have all cancelled their New Year's Eve fireworks, though no doubt smaller crowds will assemble in the streets. I'm sure that has been factored into the figures.
Our town's Boxing Day swim was cancelled but quite a few intrepid souls went in and although the seafront was busy, people tried to distance themselves. Provided they don't get too drunk (!!) I think the majority might be sensible enough. We will of course see the usual pictures of partygoers cavorting in the streets, but they are beyond help anyway.

Casdon

We’ve had a PCR testing centre for ages where I am Calistemon (mid Wales), they started out putting it in whichever town the high infection levels were, but it’s been in Builth Wells which is central, for months now. It must be location dependent I guess.

Yes, probably.

There's some confusion here re numbers allowed to attend funerals too. DH has to go to one tomorrow but I may have to wait outside if numbers are restricted

Kali2

... sensible on New Years Eve...

yeah, sure!

All our friends and family (including young adults/teenagers) are staying at home on New Years Eve. They have organised FaceTime quizzes, simultaneous cocktail making, cooking etc.

Obviously there will be some folks from all Countries of the U.K. who will be out to get drunk and party regardless of the rules. As there are in any Country worldwide when there is a festival/celebration to be enjoyed.

I typed out a post with up-to-date rates in response to LilacChaser
The 'tsunami' of Omicron infections in both Wales and Scotland only highlight that masks, strict hospitality rules, etc, do very little (or nothing) to limit spread. Though all the people from Scotland and Wales travelling into England to celebrate New Year will certainly bring England's rates up again. And who will get the blame? The government, for not being strict enough!!! Aagggh!

But lost it.

London has far higher cases than Wales or Scotland

Well we’re being sensible on New Year’s Eve, we’re staying at home!

We are too.

But that is no different to usual!

So are we. No fireworks but the people guaranteed to be crowding together in Trafalgar Square etc will provide entertainment ...

GrannyGravy13

Just seen on Twitter (SpectatorIndex) that France have recorded 208,000 Covid cases today. This is despite Covid passports, mandatory masks, nightclubs closed and strict hospitality rules.

I am beginning to think this virus (whatever the mutation) will continue on it’s path whatever us humans do…

I have been thinking this for a while France seems to have all the restrictions but the virus carries on
We are tinkering around the edges in different ways in all four parts of the UK will any of it make much difference- probably not
Sometimes the definition of insanity comes to mind keep doing the same things and expecting different results
With the huge amount of infection at the moment it is obvious the vaccinations and boosters are doing their job think we have to hold tight and wait for the end of the wave
Omicron is proving to be far less dangerous and if it continues to overtake Delta we may be in a totally different position by the spring

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51768274
This interactive map of rates by area is for LilacChaser, who as Calistemonsays, has her facts wrong. At the moment, the infection rates are higher in England than in either Scotland or Wales. It’s more likely in fact that Welsh residents who venture over the border to celebrate New Year (idiots in my opinion) will bring it home with them from the pub or party and raise the infection rate here than the other way round.
We are all in a very serious position, and no doubt the rates will go up everywhere, but we should at least attempt to be accurate in what we say about the figures.

The information on France is interesting. Despite all their restrictions they still can't get it under control.

Yes, OK, I digressed when I talked about those from Wales and Scotland crossing the border. (But living on the border of one of those countries, Ihave heard of quite a few who are planning to).

The main point, though, was in agreement with another poster who said the restrictions (apart from total lockdowns) just don't appear to be working. No matter which country one happes to live in.

LilacChaser

Yes, OK, I digressed when I talked about those from Wales and Scotland crossing the border. (But living on the border of one of those countries, Ihave heard of quite a few who are planning to).

The main point, though, was in agreement with another poster who said the restrictions (apart from total lockdowns) just don't appear to be working. No matter which country one happes to live in.

It wasn't digression as much as predicting that the Scots or Welsh would be bringing the virus over the borders to the English when in fact it could be the opposite.

Let's face it, there are cross-border journeys happening constantly, for work, shopping, pleasure, visiting families.
The virus doesn't respect borders.

It was reported on SkyNews last night that some of the Nightingale hospitals are being prepared again.

maddyone

It was reported on SkyNews last night that some of the Nightingale hospitals are being prepared again.

Apparently these are totally different from those set up in 2020 these are extra capacity for those that are not seriously ill and are awaiting discharge

That’s because they didn’t have staff for the previous nightingales. I doubt they’ll have staff for these either.

Can you imagine having to recover in those massive wards- with few staff, let alone any who are qualified! A nightmare.

Barmeyoldbat

Sago if you really have to go dinner at friends I suggest you do a laterakl flow test just before you. Haven’t you read the rest of the posts

Sago: If you’re meeting up this evening it’s advisable to do LFTs as near to going out as possible, not this morning. See my post 28/12 at 12.17

As I know the local authority situation wrt social care, I have wondered where all those from this nightingale hospital by me are going to go! They have already been sending people home from hospital too early according to various healthcare professionals I have spoken to

Kali2

Can you imagine having to recover in those massive wards- with few staff, let alone any who are qualified! A nightmare.

Massive wards? A nightmare? Few staff, let alone any who are qualified?

Where do you get your "facts" from? This is just sensible contingency planning, surely?

Temporary structures capable of housing around 100 patients will be erected in the grounds of eight hospitals across the country, with work starting as early as this week. These Nightingale hubs will improve NHS resilience if the record number of COVID-19 infections leads to a surge in admissions and outstrips existing capacity. Placing the new Nightingale facilities in hospital grounds will make it easier to flex staff and equipment if there is a surge in admissions, providing access to diagnostics and emergency care if required. The new Nightingale facilities would take patients who, although not fit for discharge, need minimal support and monitoring while they recover from illness, freeing up regular ward beds to provide care for those with more intensive needs. Patients may include those recovering from COVID-19 who are no longer infectious and do not need intensive oxygen therapy. The units would be led by hospital consultants and nurses, but with other clinical and non-clinical staff brought in with rapid training to be able to perform routine checks and other tasks.

(NHS England)

“We hope the Nightingale surge hubs at hospitals will not have to be used but it is absolutely right that we prepare for all scenarios and increase capacity”. (Sajid Javid)

Maggiemaybe you beat me to it.

Sensible contingency planning in my opinion.

Given that care homes are short staffed where are all these new clinical and non clinical staff going to come from? Maybe they will remain when (hopefully) covid is less of a problem to solve the problem of bed blocking. And, perhaps they will be counted as some of the ‘new’ hospitals that Johnson has promised to build. Cynical. Moi?

Kali2

Can you imagine having to recover in those massive wards- with few staff, let alone any who are qualified! A nightmare.

No, I can't.

Most people are sensible and see the logic in this. If they're needed thy will be used.

They are not for very sick patients. And I've no ides why you think unqualified people will be working in them

You're just peddling fake news

Aveline

The information on France is interesting. Despite all their restrictions they still can't get it under control.

Sadly true.

GrannyGravy13

Maggiemaybe you beat me to it.

Sensible contingency planning in my opinion.

I just heard on the radio news that, if I'm remembering correctly, 40,000+ NHS staff were off sick over Christmas, mostly covid related.

If this level of absence continues, or increases, where are they going to get the staff for these extra wards?

I don't really understand the optimism. We may have fewer deaths but we still don't know what the long term effects of Omicrom are, it hasn't been around for long enough.

Zoejory

Kali2

Can you imagine having to recover in those massive wards- with few staff, let alone any who are qualified! A nightmare.

No, I can't.

Most people are sensible and see the logic in this. If they're needed thy will be used.

They are not for very sick patients. And I've no ides why you think unqualified people will be working in them

You're just peddling fake news

The NHS is desperately short staffed already. Where are the extra 'qualified staff' coming from?

I suspect that Kali2's prediction might not be too far short of the mark.