Quick - look over there!

I do not agree with all restrictions being lifted. Infected people most definitely should be required to isolate for five days and provide two negative lateral flow tests before mixing with others.

Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have lifted most but not all restrictions. If you have symptoms you are still required to stay at home. Their approach seems much more sensible.

Shouldn't that be the number of deaths where people tested positive for Covid 28 days prior to their death?

25Avalon

Cases are still high in parts of the South West so quite worrying if you have to go to work or go out and about even wearing a mask. We will be the first country to lift restrictions so I wonder how other countries will react particularly for holiday makers.

Denmark have lifted all restrictions I believe. Johnson just wants to be appear to be the first leader of a non Scandinavian country to lift all restrictions so he can boast about it imo.

I'm really not listening to what Johnson says. I shall carry on as I am and watch the figures.

I was speaking to a Tory voter today. I think she reads the Daily Express, and she had to admit that Johnson lies, but thinks "all politicians are the same"

They are not.

Ed Davey does not lie. Kier Starmer does not lie.

Boris Johnson is in a league of his own.

If telling blatant lies and getting away with it was an Olympic event, the gold medalist could be Donald Trump or Boris Johnson. There's not much to chose between them.

Four people and an open bottle of champagne. One with tinsel and one with a Santa hat on. Which we'd expect to see in December in our local supermarket (well, not the champagne) but not in a No 10 workplace...

Anyway, everybody's favourite hate object, Dominic C says there are worse to come

Pammie1

* As for the party on the 15th Dec wasn’t this already on Sue Grays list isn’t it the one which was a Zoom quiz*

Yes, the Met had already decided not to investigate this but are reviewing that decision in light of the new photographs of the PM with an open bottle of champagne.

I agree with all the investigations being undertaken but this particular photograph does not show anything that was illegal at the time. Having an open bottle of champagne although distasteful to some was not illegal It seems logical to investigate serious breaches but not the ones that probably were not.

Germanshepherdsmum

I believe it’s just being done for political expediency. In other words, in an attempt to keep his job. Still so many deaths. Has Delta gone away?

Political expediency. You got it in two words GSM!

* As for the party on the 15th Dec wasn’t this already on Sue Grays list isn’t it the one which was a Zoom quiz*

Yes, the Met had already decided not to investigate this but are reviewing that decision in light of the new photographs of the PM with an open bottle of champagne.

JenniferEccles

And of course deaths and hospital admissions are the important factors hence the government’s decision.

It could be argued that now’s the time to stop publishing the daily figures on covid anyway.

I do think as I posted before that the pure nature of Omicron has changed the detection of infection
For isolation you have to first take a test which was fine with previous variants and before the vaccination programs because people were obviously ill and did not have to be encouraged to test to see if it was Covid
Now with much milder symptoms or none at all will people be as keen to test when they feel perfectly well or just have a case of the sniffles, so you will get the diligent who test very regularly having to isolate where as a lot just won’t bother
I would have never know I had Covid if I hadn’t been testing because I had been in close contact. How many are already walking about with Covid because they do not test several times a week

I did read that they are going to stop publishing the figures.

And of course deaths and hospital admissions are the important factors hence the government’s decision.

It could be argued that now’s the time to stop publishing the daily figures on covid anyway.

X post rosie

According to the ONS, although infections are up, deaths and hospital admissions are down.

For anyone that is interested there are very concise tables on the ONS website that break down deaths from Covid or involving Covid also by age. The deaths from other respiratory illnesses are also on the tables

You have to remember that the listed deaths include those who died of something else, even though they had tested positive for covid, so in many respects the figures are meaningless aren’t they?

The majority of people over 60 have an underlying health condition, but can expect to live for many more years. If well managed, many chronic health conditions have minimal effect on life expectancy.

The vast majority of people whose death is listed as "Covid" did die because they caught Covid. It's nonsense to claim that they didn't, but it's known that some health conditions make people more susceptible to serious issues.

So, no, the death statistics aren't perfect, but they're not "meaningless" either.

Well I’ll wait to see the scientific/medical response to this. My gut feeling is it is Johnson just placating certain conservative MPs. I’ll be wearing my mask for the foreseeable future.

CvD66

Robert Peston (Journalist) 2hrs ago: No one in or around SAGE and Nervtag is aware of any scientific advice given to the PM that the requirement to isolate for those infected with Covid19 should be terminated from end of the month. “It’s politics, isn’t it” is a typical reaction

Of course it is!

Robert Peston (Journalist) 2hrs ago: No one in or around SAGE and Nervtag is aware of any scientific advice given to the PM that the requirement to isolate for those infected with Covid19 should be terminated from end of the month. “It’s politics, isn’t it” is a typical reaction

Cases are still high in parts of the South West so quite worrying if you have to go to work or go out and about even wearing a mask. We will be the first country to lift restrictions so I wonder how other countries will react particularly for holiday makers.

I believe it’s just being done for political expediency. In other words, in an attempt to keep his job. Still so many deaths. Has Delta gone away?

You have to remember that the listed deaths include those who died of something else, even though they had tested positive for covid, so in many respects the figures are meaningless aren’t they?

I think the removal of restrictions is the right way to go.
It’s been shown that Omicron isn’t a dangerous variant so now is the time to get on with our lives and just accept it as we do flu epidemics.

Those who wish to continue wearing masks can, and those who would prefer to limit their contact with others will I’m sure carry on, but for the rest of us it’s time to get back to normal.

A good move.

I understand that the photo wasn't released until PMs was under way.

I think that the ending of covid regulations is a treat to keep his right wing loons on side.

It was already planned to lift isolation rules end of March and I am sure I have heard before they may well be lifted sooner.
It comes down to what is actually working now Omicron has taken oven and it’s symptoms in most are much milder and in some especially the vaccinated can be zero
To know someone has Covid you have to rely on them to test in the first place now how many are not testing very regularly and probably have Covid and don’t even realise
Many will not keep testing just in case
As for the party on the 15th Dec wasn’t this already on Sue Grays list isn’t it the one which was a Zoom quiz