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Boris Johnson confirms Christmas is ON and no new restrictions yet – but new rules loom after Boxing Day
BORIS Johnson tonight declared Christmas is ON - but warned of a Boxing Day hangover as more restrictions could eventually follow.
In a sigh of relief to millions preparing to celebrate with friends and family, the PM confirmed no new measures would be imposed before December 25.
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He said that while the outbreak of Omicron "remains extremely difficult" it did not warrant tougher curbs just yet.
But New Year's Eve parties are on the brink as the PM once again stressed he "will be ready to take action" afterwards if the situation spirals out of control.
The PM is believed to be considering casting Britain back into Step 2 curbs that would ban indoor mixing and force drinkers to have pints outside.
It is understood the PM could announce a post-festive squeeze for as early as December 27 in the next 48 hours.
Yet tonight Mr Johnson implored Brits to get boosted, urging them to "drop everything" and go to a walk-in centre or book online.
His clarion call makes it more vital than ever for vaccine volunteers to sign up to The Sun's Jabs Army campaign.
In key developments:
- Rishi Sunak unveiled a £1billion package for desperate pubs and restaurants
- Nicola Sturgeon announced a Boxing Day tightening of the rules
- Ministers were preparing to slash the isolation period from 10 to seven days
- Sadiq Khan scrapped the planned New Years Eve event in Trafalgar Square
- A top scientist said Omicron may not be spreading as rapidly as feared
- Doctors warned 90 per cent of ICU patients were unvaccinated
In a video message posted to Twitter tonight, Mr Johnson cautiously broke the good news.
He said: "There is no doubt that Omicron continues to surge with a speed unlike anything we’ve seen before.
"The situation remains extremely difficult but I also recognise that people have been waiting to hear whether their Christmas plans are going to be affected.
"So what I can say tonight, is that naturally we can’t rule out any further measures after Christmas - and we’re going to keep a constant eye on the data, and we’ll do whatever it takes to protect public health.
"But in view of the continuing uncertainty about several things – the severity of Omicron, uncertainty about the hospitalisation rate or the impact of the vaccine rollout or the boosters, we don’t think today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas."
While he gave the green light for people to press ahead with plans, the PM urged them to do it cautiously.
Mr Johnson's announcement means Boxing Day football will be able to go ahead with crowds in England, unlike in Scotland where they will be limited to 500 fans.
While Christmas and Boxing Day are safe from being blighted by restrictions, Downing Street insiders refused to rule out tougher rules immediately after the weekend.
Mr Johnson could yet announce plans for restrictions ahead of the Christmas weekend, but time has run out to get them voted on and introduced before early next week.
He will spend tomorrow mulling over new hospitalisation data before making a decision on what measures may be needed next week.
But with the House of Commons requiring a minimum of 24 hours to be recalled and a day to legislate on new regulations, Christmas Day plans and crucial Boxing Day football fixtures are safe from legally enforced lockdown measures on crowds being capped.
BOXING DAY HANGOVER
Cabinet Ministers today fanned fears of a circuit-breaker following their decision yesterday to hold off announcing any imminent restrictions.
Rishi Sunak said there was "an enormous amount of uncertainty" around Christmas plans and could not rule anything out.
Asked if he could rule out restrictions before the New Year, the Chancellor said: "I absolutely appreciate people's frustration with all of this.
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"And I'd refer people to the Prime Minister's words yesterday. And unfortunately, we're just dealing with an enormous amount of uncertainty at the moment.
"And what the Prime Minister said is that we're reviewing the data day by day, hour by hour, keeping the situation under constant review that can't rule anything out."
Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay also said ministers were "looking closely at the data" before deciding whether to pull the trigger on a circuit-breaker.
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Make-or-break modelling from top Government advisers is also expected as soon as today to force the PM to take action.
Nicola Sturgeon this afternoon heaped pressure on Mr Johnson to tighten the rules as she unveiled a Boxing Day clampdown in Scotland.
Fans will no longer be allowed into stadiums and pubs must revert to table service after December 26. No more than three households will be able to sit in a group.
REBEL REBEL
Meanwhile Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, is briefing Tory MPs on the latest Omicron evidence tonight.
Mr Johnson fears a massive backbench revolt against more restrictions could once again leave him in the fragile position of relying on Labour.
They'll be shown the most recent SAGE minutes which warn that "more stringent measures would need to be implemented very soon".
Firing a warning shot across the PM's bow, ex-Cabinet Minister Esther McVey said people shouldn't be cowed by "scaremongering by the lockdown fanatics".
Hospitality bosses also demanded to know the plan so they could decide whether or not to order supplies.
Strict guidance to limit gatherings has taken a wrecking ball to businesses' golden Christmas trading period and seen December profits tank by 60 per cent.
The Chancellor unveiled a bumper £1billion package to stop hospitality venues going to the wall after suffering a flood of cancellations from cautious Brits.
Following a clamour for help, Mr Sunak this afternoon announced one-off £6,000 grants for 200,000 hospitality and leisure venues.
Unfortunately, we're just dealing with an enormous amount of uncertainty
Rishi Sunak
More than £100million will be funnelled to local councils to use for other venues in need of emergency cash.
He also said the Government would revive the Statutory Sick Pay scheme for staff forced to isolate as the super-variant threatens millions of absences.
From today the Treasury will bankroll the £96.35 a week for workers forced to take time off with Covid. Bosses can make retrospective claims from mid-January.
Labour's Pat McFadden fumed: "The real question after yesterday’s indecisive Cabinet meeting is what will happen next, when will the country be informed of that, and will support for businesses and workers be placed alongside any further public health measures that might be announced."
In a flicker of good news a top scientist today said Omicron "isn't spreading as fast as doomsday predictions suggest".
Cambridge professor Sir David Spiegelhalter claims that overall admissions to hospital should remain manageable - as the rate "isn't looking quite as bad" as once thought.
And Sir Jeremy Farrar, a former member of Sage, said: "Omicron is spreading unbelievably fast. It is a phenomenal variant transmission.
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"There is great uncertainty about what is it going to lead to in terms of pressure on the health system, people going to hospital, particularly people dying, but also what impact is it going to have on the broader society, staff absences, the ability to have functioning other services, so there is great uncertainty.
"My personal view is that I think we can wait at the moment until there are more restrictions formally placed."
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Omicron 'isn't spreading as fast as doomsday predictions suggest', expert says as Boris monitors cases 'hour by hour'