I wish I could find the clip from the news report Col, I think the reporter actually made it even more complex than it is, and clearly didn’t understand it himself.
The whole thing is incredibly difficult to manage and there will always be contradictions in the guidelines etc. However, all the faux misunderstanding, especially in the media, does piss me off a tad.
MRHA blocks the posting of lateral flow tests to households on the grounds that self testing is inaccurate. This was part of the strategy to keep England out of the (inevitable) post Christmas mega lockdown. Johnson and Hancock hopping mad, Hancock has promised ‘it will be resolved’ - how, the regulator has made a decision based on its analysis of the technology. Exactly what it is meant to do, and I find it very reassuring that it has done this, despite what politicians want, gives more credibility to its positive decisions. Bravo, if these tests can make a difference, let’s make sure they are usable rather than try to bully the regulator - Johnson was threatening to phone them up himself to berate them, until greasy Matt dissuaded him with his little undeliverable promise.
Boris giving a presser at 1600.... KICK IN THE BAUBLES Christmas cancelled for millions as ‘London and South East to be put in Tier 4 lockdown with travel and bubbles banned’ 14:12, 19 Dec 2020 Updated https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13523...pp&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebarweb
CHRIMBO CANCELLED? Coronavirus Scotland: Xmas IN DOUBT as Sturgeon hosts special cabinet meeting & says ‘preventative action’ may be needed https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/ne...tmas-bubbles-nicola-sturgeon-cabinet-meeting/
I have just heard that Boris is going to talk on TV about the South East today. Don't know what he is going to do as we are in Tier3.
Covid: Boris Johnson 'to tighten rules' in London and south-east England please log in to view this image A fourth tier of coronavirus restrictions is expected to be introduced in London and south-east England, sources have told the BBC. There is also expected to be a tightening of the plans to relax the rules around households gathering during the Christmas period. The PM is to hold a press conference at 16:00 GMT as concerns grow about the spread of a new variant of the virus. Boris Johnson hosted a cabinet meeting earlier to discuss what action to take. Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said government advisers "consider the new strain can spread more quickly". He will join the prime minister and Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, at the press conference. England's current three-tier system of coronavirus measures has faced criticism for not being effective in stopping the surge in cases. Boris Johnson 'hoping to avoid' national lockdown NHS pressure 'at a really dangerous point' UK's R number back above one The first ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland held talks with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove earlier. Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon, who will hold a press conference later, tweeted: "Cases currently at lower level in Scotland than UK - but preventative action may be necessary to stop faster spreading strain taking hold." Welsh ministers are meeting to discuss "serious concerns", while Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted that the new variant of coronavirus prevalent in south-east England was "very concerning". Wales and Northern Ireland have already announced post-Christmas lockdowns. Covid rules were due to be relaxed across the UK between 23 and 27 December, with up to three households being able to meet. Any change of restrictions for London and the South East would not require MPs' approval in a Commons vote, as they are only held for England or UK-wide measures. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image It was just 72 hours ago that Boris Johnson was resisting pressure to cancel relaxations of restrictions over Christmas. He told a press conference cancelling the festive plans would be "inhuman". But concern has grown significantly in the last couple of days; both about the rising number of cases and the new variant of the virus disclosed earlier this week. Ministers met with their scientific advisers on Friday evening - and again on Saturday morning. Things have moved quickly in the last 24 hours. Sources have confirmed a new tier 4 will be introduced in London and the South East of England. That's likely to mean closure of non-essential shops and beauty salons. That's likely to have a significant impact of Christmas plans and what people can do in and around the capital. There are also conversations taking place in the devolved administrations about whether further restrictions are needed there too. please log in to view this image Following concern about the rapid spread of a new variant, Prof Whitty said: "We have alerted the World Health Organization and are continuing to analyse the available data to improve our understanding." That came after advice from the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) - the expert committee that advises the government on pandemics. "There is no current evidence to suggest the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments although urgent work is under way to confirm this," Prof Whitty added. Chairman of Nervtag, Peter Horby, said they had not found the variant to be more severe but being easier to transmit meant it was harder to control. New variant 'really worrying' Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said it was a big concern that the new variant seemed to be "out-competing the other viruses very fast indeed". He told the BBC News Channel: "The really worrying thing from my perspective is that this was something we didn't know about at the beginning of this month and it appeared. And from what we hear, it is already becoming one of the dominant strains." Asked if the transmission would move northwards, he said "almost certainly".
Ambulance Services from the Republic helping out their counterparts in Northern Ireland as they are so busy. There are reports that people are being treated in the ambulances outside the A&E Departments. At Antrim Hospital, there were 17 ambulances treating patients in the car park. Cases starting to rise here after only 18 days out of a 6 week lock down. They are saying all hospitality will have to close between Christmas and New Year. Tougher restrictions for the whole of Europe by the looks of it.
Crap I have just been put in tier 4! We hardly have any cases here. That’s Christmas out of the window. I hope all those people that broke the rules are happy now. @@@@‘s.
FFS....just hope I can get at least some of my money back from the AirBnB we'd booked for Xmas in Cheshire Not going to be able to meet my son either - ironically Liverpool moved down into Tier 2 post November lock down
Oh yes that’s right... although I thought you were going other way for some reason. Tier 4 Where we live? I wont be able to invite you over for an outdoor social distance watch QPR game now. Bloody Covid.
