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    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021

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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 11:47

    Summary for Sunday, 19th December

    • Sajid Javid says there are "no guarantees" in the pandemic when asked if he was ruling out new restrictions before Christmas
    • The health secretary tells Andrew Marr ministers are challenging scientific data and considering wider factors before bringing in more measures
    • London Mayor Sadiq Khan says more restrictions such as social distancing and limits on household mixing are "inevitable"
    • Brexit minister Lord Frost resigned on Saturday saying he hopes the government will not be tempted by "coercive measures" seen elsewhere
    • It comes after 10,000 new Omicron cases are confirmed in the UK and London declares a major incident.
    • Germany is to ban British tourists and business travellers from entering the country from tonight
    • The Netherlands is entering a strict lockdown over Christmas amid fears about Omicron

    Good morning and welcome

    We'll be bringing you the latest updates on the top coronavirus headlines from around the world throughout today.
    These are the main developments so far:

    • Germany has announced a ban on British tourists and business travellers entering the country from tonight because of concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant
    • A month-long lockdown has begun in the Netherlands to try to control the spread of Omicron - only essential shops such as supermarkets are allowed to open
    • A major incident has been declared in London as more than 10,000 new Omicron cases have been confirmed in the UK
    • Covid cases have hit a record high for a second consecutive day in the US state of New York
    • And in Australia's most populous state - New South Wales - more than 10,000 people have contracted Covid in the last five days
    • Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of Covid infections, with the Netherlands leading the way by imposing a nationwide lockdown.
    • in the UK, where the scale of the threat posed by the Omicron variant has been laid bare by government scientists who warned that there are now hundreds of thousands of infections every day in Britain.
      They warned daily number could reach between 600,000 and 2 million by the end of the month if new restrictions are not brought in immediately.
    • Germany is tightening restrictions on travel from the UK in an attempt to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
    • The World Health Organization reported on Saturday that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries, and Covid cases involving the variant are doubling every one-and-a-half to three days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad.
    • Kamala Harris has conceded that the Biden administration was blind to the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants of Covid-19, and said she fears “misinformation” over vaccines will prolong the pandemic well into a third year in the US.
    • Australia’s federal health minister has said it is unlikely the country will follow the Netherlands and impose significant lockdowns to suppress surging Omicron infections, although the deputy chief medical officer, noted that the new variant was highly transmissible
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 12:08

    German Covid fears prompt UK travel restrictions

    Germany has become the latest European country to ban most travellers from Britain as it tries to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
    German nationals and residents will still be allowed to enter from the UK.
    They must have a negative test and quarantine for two weeks, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
    The measures take effect from Sunday evening - France has already introduced similar curbs as coronavirus infections surge in Britain.
    Read here for more details.

    Dutch enter tight lockdown over Omicron fears

    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 20e9da04-d1a9-424e-98bc-f3ff0b494a61

    The Netherlands has become the first European country to bring back a strict lockdown as it tries to control the spread of Omicron.
    Under the new rules - which came in today - non-essential shops, bars and other public venues are now closed until at least 14 January.
    Events are banned around the country apart from funerals, weekly grocery markets and professional sports matches with no spectators.
    There are also strict limits on the number of people who can meet at a time.
    Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said the measures were “unavoidable”, and a failure to act would likely lead to “an unmanageable situation in hospitals”.
    Read more here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 12:16

    Cases surge in Australia’s New South Wales

    Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, has recorded more than 10,000 Covid cases in just five days.
    Another 2,566 cases were reported on Sunday, days after mandates were lifted for masks and QR code check-ins at shops and restaurants.
    But despite concerns from health experts and some members of his own cabinet, State Premier Dominic Perrottet is resisting calls to re-instate more restrictions.
    In a video posted on social media, Mr Perrottet said they had to "learn to live alongside the virus", adding: "The best way of doing that is to continue the strong vaccination rate."
    Nationwide, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has steered clear from talk of lockdowns, stressing that hospitals had been preparing for any surge in admissions.
    "The case numbers are not translating into immediate pressure, but that's not to say it won't,” he said.
    "We're ready for this. We planned to live with the virus, we didn't plan to remain shut in," the prime minister added.

    UK reports more than 10,000 new Omicron cases

    A major incident was declared in London on Saturday and more than 10,000 new Omicron cases confirmed in the UK.
    London Mayor Sadiq Khan said this showed "how serious things are".
    A further 90,418 daily Covid cases were reported across the UK, after days of record highs.
    Scientific advisers have warned that England's hospital admissions could reach 3,000 a day without new measures.
    Restrictions "similar in scale to the national lockdown" would be required to keep hospital admissions from Covid below previous peaks, the modelling advisers to the government said, in newly-released minutes.
    Read our full story here.

    What is a 'major incident'?

    A major incident is any emergency that requires the implementation of special arrangements by one or all of the emergency services, the NHS or the local authority.
    It means the emergency services and hospitals cannot guarantee their normal level of response.
    Major incidents have previously been called in response to the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, and the terror attacks at Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.
    London Mayor Sadiq Khan also declared a major incident on 8 January due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 and its impact on the health service.
    It was in place until 26 February as case numbers in the capital fell.

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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 12:25

    'It may be too late to react' - Sajid Javid

    Sajid Javid says "there is much we still don't know" about Omicron and warns "it may be too late to react".
    Writing in the Sunday Telegraph he has said "we have to be clear-eyed about the challenge Omicron presents".
    The health secretary admitted that standing in Parliament this week and arguing for Plan B brought him "no joy".
    "Promoting individual freedom and opportunity is one of the reasons I got into politics," he wrote.
    However, he added: "But we have to be clear-eyed about the challenge Omicron presents.
    "Our strategy since it emerged has been and remains to buy time for our scientists to assess the threat and build up our defences... Together we are taking a responsible and proportionate response."
    He'll be appearing on The Andrew Marr Show shortly - it starts at 09:00GMT - and we'll bring you coverage of what he says then.

    A look at today's papers

    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 E5991dee-d57a-4852-a5ce-dba8491f3d00

    Let's have a look at today's papers.
    Several of them are leading on Lord Frost's resignation as Brexit Minister.
    The Sunday Telegraph thinks the move creates a "major new crisis" for Boris Johnson while the The Sunday Times argues that the problems engulfing the prime minister have "deepened".
    Health Secretary Sajid Javid has acknowledged in the Sunday Telegraph that "there is much we still don't know" about Omicron and "it may be too late to react".
    Covid also dominates some of the front pages with The Sunday People reporting on a warning from health leaders that up to 50,000 NHS staff could be off sick by Christmas Day, as the Omicron variant "rips through the workforce".

    Why did Lord Frost resign?

    Brexit minister Lord Frost led the UK's negotiations over the EU Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol. He resigned on Saturday.
    In his resignation letter, he said that while "Brexit is now secure" he had "concerns about the current direction of travel".
    The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the news, said he handed in his resignation a week ago, partly in disagreement with Covid curbs.
    In his letter, Lord Frost said his resignation would take "immediate effect" and spoke of his desire to see a "low-tax" economy.
    He added that measures to reopen the economy in July "did not prove to be irreversible", saying: "I hope we can get back on track soon and not be tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere."
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 12:39

    Javid won't rule out circuit breaker before Christmas

    Mr Javid says there are "no guarantees" when asked about the possibility of further restrictions.
    When Andrew Marr suggests to him that he is not ruling out a circuit breaker or new restrictions before Christmas, Mr Javid said: "There are no guarantees in this pandemic, I don't think.
    "At this point we just have to keep everything under review."

    No easy way to deal with NHS isolations - Javid

    Sajid Javid has acknowledged that the impact of Covid on the NHS is "a big challenge".
    He told Andrew Marr that even before Omicron the health service was massively challenged, and that having large number of staff isolating was having an impact on the NHS's workforce.
    But he stressed that the need to isolate for those who test positive is "super important".
    "There is not an easy way in dealing with these challenges," he added.

    What did we learn from Sajid Javid on the Andrew Marr show today?

    The main headline from Sajid Javid's appearance on the Andrew Marr show is that he did not rule out new coronavirus measures before Christmas - saying there are "no guarantees" in the pandemic.
    He also said:

    • Any further restrictions would need to be brought before MPs.
    • He felt the public understood that Omicron required "extraordinary actions".
    • People should be cautious as they approached the festive season, and should think carefully about what events they attended.
    • Advice from Sage - the scientific advisory group - was "sobering", but government ministers should still make their own decisions.
    • The impact of Covid on the NHS is "a big challenge" with a large number of staff isolating, but said there was not an easy way to deal with the challenge.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 12:45

    Denmark tightens restrictions over Omicron

    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 6727aaae-680c-485d-a8f3-cde1c2e4109b
    Denmark has seen a number of street protests against Covid restrictions

    As discussion over potential further restrictions continues in the UK, other European countries have already imposed new measures.
    Denmark is the latest to do so, with theatres, cinemas and amusement parks there all set to close for the next month.
    Cafes and restaurants must close at 23:00, and businesses won't be able to sell alcohol after 22:00.
    There are also limits on the number of customers allowed into shops which vary depending on the size of the building.
    Despite its relatively small population of about six million people, the country has registered the second highest number of Omicron cases in Europe behind only the UK.

    Stop dithering and set out Covid plan - shadow health secretary 

    Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the government should stop “shilly shallying, dithering and delaying” and set out its plan for Covid restrictions over Christmas and into the new year.
    He said: "It's often better to act sooner than later because delaying often means severe restrictions for longer."
    Streeting said the government has had the latest scientific advice since Thursday.
    He said: "The health secretary has been on TV this morning saying on one hand action is needed, but failing to set out the action on the other hand."
    Labour would support a plan based on the best scientific advice, Sweeting said, adding that the party will be briefed by the scientists advising the government later today.

    Restrictions would be devastating, says hospitality industry

    Kate Nicholls from UKHospitality, which represents the interests of the hospitality industry, has said further restrictions would be devastating for businesses.
    "It's better to trade, even a little bit, than be closed down altogether," she said.
    "There are a lot of costs [involved in] closing down sites and then reopening them. Having a fourth lockdown would be the final nail in the coffin for some businesses."
    Nicholls said the damage to consumer confidence could be "irreparable", and that the industry was already seeing an impact on bookings in January, February and even at Easter.
    "The government said this plan was irreversible, which gave many people reassurance. It's very difficult telling staff you have a stable job for them if you keep closing down on a whim."
    Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the government will do "whatever it takes" to support jobs, but that funding was already available.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 12:57

    Omicron to hit Northern Ireland 'like a ton of bricks'

    The new Omicron variant is going to hit Northern Ireland "like a ton of bricks", the country's deputy first minister warns.
    Michelle O'Neill has said modelling presented to Stormont ministers suggests that the region could be facing 30,000 cases a day in a worst-case scenario.
    "We know that by the end of the year this will be the dominant strain of Covid, we know that we will peak in the middle of January, we know it is going to spread rapidly," she said.
    Plans for new restrictions to be applied after Christmas are expected to be announced on Wednesday.
    But Ms O'Neill told the BBC Sunday Politics programme that ministers will act before then if it is deemed necessary.

    Wembley Stadium vaccine centre aiming to jab 10,000 people today

    Vijay Tailor, a GP in north-west London, is working as part of team at a mass vaccination centre in Wembley Stadium hoping to give 10,000 people their booster jabs today.
    It is one of 3,000 venues across the UK working to deliver first and second jabs - as well as boosters in the run-up to Christmas.
    Clinical staff are working alongside St John Ambulance, the army - as well as volunteers acting as runners and marshals - to make sure everyone gets a vaccine.
    Dr Tailor says: "The process is running very smoothly.
    "My warning to everyone is to keep your social contacts to a minimum so that you're fit and well to meet your loved ones at Christmas - but come and have your booster as well so that your immunity is primed.
    "If we can get 10,000 today, that will be excellent."

    Severe lack of vaccination walk-in centres in England

    Chaminda Jayanetti - The Guardian
    Large swathes of England, including several major cities, have no vaccination walk-in centres, it has emerged, sparking fears the government will miss its target of offering all adults a booster jab by the end of this month.
    As the tide of Omicron cases surges, thousands seeking a third vaccination without having to wait days or weeks for an appointment are driving miles to neighbouring counties.
    People without transport and those for whom a walk-in centre is the only option – because they do not have a GP or an NHS number – have no access to Covid booster jabs.
    Several cities, including Norwich, Peterborough and York, have no walk-in centres. And there are no walk-in boosters available in entire counties, including Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire, although some offer third doses for people with weakened immune systems.

    Rising number of blood cancer patients dying of Covid in England and Wales

    Michael Savage - The Guardian
    UK government ministers have been accused of failing to protect the most vulnerable people from rising Covid cases after it emerged in England and Wales that people with blood cancer account for a higher proportion of coronavirus deaths than earlier in the pandemic.
    With daily case numbers at record highs as a result of the Omicron variant, charities warn that people with suppressed immune systems who had been helped to shield at the start of the pandemic felt obliged to put themselves at risk at work, were confused about how to access treatments and less likely to have protection from vaccines.
    More than 3,000 people with blood cancer – just over one in 100 of all those who have the disease in England and Wales – have died of Covid, according to analysis of official data by Blood Cancer UK.
    This is despite these patients having spent long periods shielding to avoid contact with the virus.
    Read more.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 13:17

    Iran announces first detected case of Omicron Covid-19 variant

    Iran has detected its first case of infection by the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, state TV reported on Sunday.
    The announcement comes as the variant spreads around the globe less than a month after scientists alerted the World Health Organization to the concerning-looking version.
    Iran has vaccinated 60% of its population of roughly 85 million people with two doses of coronavirus vaccines.
    The coronavirus has killed more than 131,000 people in Iran, the worst fatality rate in the Middle East. On 24 August alone, 709 people died of the illness. The number of deaths has decreased in recent months due to the vaccination, experts say.
    Iran accelerated vaccinations in recent weeks. More than 50 million Iranians have received their second shots, and 3.5 million have received a third jab.

    British health minister doesn't rule out 'circuit breaker' before Xmas

    Most of the parties he had planned to go to have been cancelled or scaled back and he wont’t be having the same number of hugs with his elderly mother, Britain’s health minister has told the BBC.
    “It’s time to be more cautious. We know this thing is spreading rapidly,” Sajid Javid told broadcaster Andrew Marr.
    He was not ruling out a new “circuit breaker” increase in restrictions coming in even before Christmas.
    “There are no guarantees in this pandemic. At this point, we just have to keep everything under review.”

    Netherlands in shock as country enters lockdown

    Shopping streets in the Netherlands were closed and people’s Christmas plans were in disarray as the country began a lockdown on Sunday aimed at limiting an expected Covid-19 surge caused by the rise of the Omicron variant.
    Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the sudden shut-down on Saturday evening, ordering the closure of all but the most essential stores, as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places from Sunday until at least January 14.
    The news came as a shock to many Dutch people as they headed into the Christmas and New Year period, Reuters reports. Many people rushed out on Saturday to stock up on presents and food and to get a last-minute haircut.
    Hospitality workers demanded compensation for lost income in the holiday season, while gym owners stressed the importance of exercise during a health crisis.
    “Closing all bars and restaurants in such an important month is incredibly painful and dramatic. We need compensation and an exit strategy”, the Dutch association for hospitality services said.
    All schools will close a week early for the Christmas break on Monday and will remain shut until at least January 9, while households are recommended to receive no more than two visitors and gatherings outside are also limited to a maximum of two.
    Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have dropped from record levels in recent weeks after a night-time lockdown was put in place late last month. But cases involving the Omicron variant have increased rapidly since the beginning of December and the strain is expected to become dominant before the end of the year.
    This will pose a big problem for hospitals, which have been cancelling regular care for weeks as they try to avoid running out of beds due to the high numbers of COVID-19 patients on their wards.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 13:41

    Omicron will hit Northern Ireland “like a ton of bricks”, the deputy first minister, Michelle O’Neill has warned.

    PA reports that O’Neill said modelling presented to Stormont ministers suggests that in a worst-case scenario, the region could be facing 30,000 cases a day.
    Executive ministers are involved in discussions about the situation ahead of a formal meeting on Wednesday, when it is expected new restrictions to be applied after Christmas will be announced.
    O’Neill told the BBC Sunday Politics programme that ministers will act before then if it is deemed necessary.
    She said: “In terms of what we know, we know that this is going to hit us like a ton of bricks.
    “We know that by the end of the year this will be the dominant strain of Covid, we know that we will peak in the middle of January, we know it is going to spread rapidly.
    “What we don’t yet know is the impact in terms of our hospital situation, and we expect to understand that a bit more tomorrow and that is when we will engage again.
    “Then we decide when to intervene and what is the appropriate intervention.”

    Delhi Reports 107 Covid-19 Cases, Highest Single-Day Rise Since June 27

    Delhi reports 107 Covid-19 cases, highest single-day rise since June 27, and one death.
    According to the health bulletin, positivity rate is 0.17 per cent.

    Brian May says he ‘perhaps made the wrong decision’ to attend birthday gathering after catching Covid-19

    Jacob Stolworthy - The Independent
    Brian May has said he “made the wrong decision” to attend a mask-free social a gathering after catching Covid-19.
    The Queen guitarist has tested positive for the virus, sharing the results of his lateral flow test on Instagram.
    He said he is feeling “truly horrible” and that it’s like “the worst flu you can imagine” before revealing how he believes he caught it.
    May told his Instagram followers that he attended a friend’s birthday meal with his wife, former EastEnders star Anita Dobson, with a small group of friends, thinking they were “in a safe bubble”.
    “It’s kind of ironic for me,” he said, explaining that the couple have been “incredibly careful” over “the past 20 months”.
    He continued: ‘Then last Saturday [11 December]. we decided we would go to a birthday lunch and we thought, well this is the last social function we would go to – not that we go to many anyway, we’ll chance it, everybody’s going to be triple-jabbed, everybody’s going to be with one of these things [lateral flow test] which says you’ll be negative on the morning.”
    May said “it seemed to be set up very safely, but of course you kind of know you’re taking a risk and so we all went to the party”.
    After quoting Professor Chris Whitty’s advice from earlier this week, in which he instructed the country to “decide what your priorities are” due to rising Covid rates, May said: “We did and, in retrospect, perhaps we made the wrong decision.”
    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 NewFile-1
    Brian May and Anita Dobson both caught Covid after attending social gathering
    (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

    “It seemed like a safe situation,” he said, adding: “You have your negative tests, so what could possibly go wrong?
    “The new variant seems to be so incredibly transmissible that I’m not even sure that would have been safe – this thing is spreading at such an alarming rate.”
    He added: “You really do NOT want it messing up YOUR Christmas.”
    May said that eight people at the party tested positive and that his lateral flow test took three days to show the positive result.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 13:45

    The key developments so far today

    If you’re just joining us, here are the key developments so far today:

    • When asked if he could rule out further restrictions before Christmas,UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid failed to do so and said there were "no guarantees" in the pandemic
    • London Mayor Sadiq Khan, meanwhile, said more restrictions such as social distancing and limits on household mixing were "inevitable" after he declared a major incident in the city yesterday
    • Denmark became the latest European country to impose tighter measures over Omicron, with theatres, cinemas and amusement parks there all set to close for the next month
    • Germany announced a ban on British tourists and business travellers entering the country from tonight because of concerns about the spread of Omicron
    • A month-long lockdown has begun in the Netherlands to try to control the spread of Omicron - only essential shops such as supermarkets are allowed to remain open
    • In Australia's most populous state - New South Wales - more than 10,000 people have contracted Covid in the last five days
    • And in the US state of New York, Covid cases have hit a new record for a second consecutive day
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 14:18

    Omicron now dominant strain in Ireland

    Omicron is now the dominant strain of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, according to authorities, who said that recent measures had slowed down the spread somewhat.
    As Ireland’s Department of Health confirmed that there had been 5,124 new cases of Covid-19, it said that it an estimated 52% of reported cases are as a result of the Omicron variant.
    Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan told RTE News: “It has taken less than two weeks for Omicron to become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland, revealing just how transmissible this variant is.

    Protests in Brussels on Sunday for a third time against reinforced Covid-19 restrictions

    Thousands of peaceful protesters demonstrated in central Brussels on Sunday for a third time against reinforced Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Belgian government to counter a spike of infections and the emergence of the worrying omicron variant.
    A strong police presence was deployed on streets in anticipation of the crowds, given how previous protests had sometimes descended into violence, arrest and injury.
    The marchers — some with placards reading “free zone,” “I’ve had my fair dose” and “enough is enough” — came to protest the government’s strong advice to get vaccinated, and included Belgian health care workers who will have a three-month window in which to get vaccinated against the coronavirus from January 1 or risk losing their jobs.
    On Sunday, the Brussels-based European Commission agreed with Pfizer-BioNTech to accelerate the delivery of vaccines starting in a few weeks. The pharmaceutical giant will deliver an additional 20 million vaccine doses January through March to European Union member states.
    The Belgian protest comes one day after similar protests in other capitals including Paris and London.
    In a Brussels demonstration last month, small fringes spiraled into violence as several hundred people started pelting police, smashing cars and setting garbage bins ablaze. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

    What would a circuit breaker achieve?

    Nick Triggle - Health Correspondent
    Introducing restrictions buys time, but it does not solve the problem.
    The risk is you just delay the inevitable because you get a rebound in infections once they are lifted.
    So the question that has to be asked is, what will be done with the time that a short circuit breaker would provide if it was introduced.
    It would certainly allow more boosters to be given. But more than 80% of the most vulnerable have already been boosted, so the gains from that are nowhere near what they were for last winter’s lockdown when the vaccine programme was in its infancy.
    If admissions were to rise as quickly as some of the most pessimistic modelling suggests, restrictions could stop the NHS being overwhelmed by flattening the peak.
    This perhaps remains the strongest argument in favour of a circuit breaker given the uncertainty for the moment over how much serious illness will be caused by this Omicron wave.
    And all of that, of course, needs to be weighed against the costs to society, the economy and wider mental health.
    You can read more from Nick on what tougher measures will achieve, here.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 14:25

    Covid-hit Chelsea 'deeply disappointed' after failing to have Wolves game postponed

    London (AFP)
    Chelsea said they were "deeply disappointed" after the Premier League rejected their request to postpone Sunday's match against Wolves due to a coronavirus outbreak in their squad.
    Thomas Tuchel's side are already without Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi due to positive Covid-19 tests.
    The Stamford Bridge club are understood to have lost more players to positive tests on Saturday, leaving the Londoners travelling to Wolverhampton with a makeshift squad for the 1400 GMT kick-off.
    Ben Chilwell has been isolating due to a positive test, but was already sidelined with knee trouble.
    Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were not on Chelsea's team bus on arrival at Molineux.
    Tuchel had already admitted Chelsea could be pressed into starting Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante ahead of schedule on the midfield pair's return from injury.
    Kovacic only came out of isolation on Friday and has not played since October due to hamstring trouble, while Kante has not featured since November with a knee issue.
    "We are deeply disappointed that our application was rejected as we felt we had a strong case for postponement of today's match on the grounds of players' health and safety," said a Chelsea spokesman.
    The European champions' request is understood to have been rejected because the Blues were deemed to have had enough players to fulfil the fixture according to Premier League regulations.
    Five of Saturday's six Premier League fixtures were postponed, with Everton's clash with Leicester on Sunday also called off.

    US, Canada, Germany, Italy among 10 countries Israel set to add to no-fly list

    The Times of Israel
    The Health Ministry on Sunday recommended that the government add 10 new countries to the list of destinations designated “red” due to high COVID-19 infections rates, as Israel braces for a wave of new cases driven by the Omicron variant.
    Ministers were expected to approve the recommendation to bar travel to the United States, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Canada, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey from Wednesday, December 22, in a meeting of the coronavirus cabinet later Sunday.
    The decision is driven by data seen by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett showing the likelihood of “a significant outbreak” of COVID-19 within three weeks, with the peak surpassing that of the Delta wave, which started in June.
    Officials have said Bennett is “looking to buy time” to possibly delay the wave of infections by “closing the skies” to destinations popular with Israelis.
    Israel has in recent days already added nine countries to the “red,” no-fly list: the UK, Denmark, France, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. South Africa and a slew of other African countries were added at the start of the month.
    On Thursday, the cabinet voted to extend the current travel restrictions, including the ban on foreigners entering the country and a requirement for all returning Israelis to quarantine for three days upon entry. The limitations will now last until December 29 at least.
    Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said Sunday that the restrictions were needed to “buy time” for the vaccination campaign.
    “We are facing a new situation. Most of the infection from Omicron is coming from abroad, so we must limit the rate of entry of the virus into Israel in order to buy time and vaccinate as much as possible before the spread also occurs in Israel,” Horowitz told Army Radio.
    But in a statement released after Sunday morning’s cabinet meeting, in which expanding the no-fly list was discussed, Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli said she told ministers that she would not back any further restrictions on travel “until the issue of support for airline companies is resolved.”
    She said the government was “abandoning thousands of workers for whom this is their livelihood. There is currently no unpaid leave agreement or anything else that supports them. These people perform critical work and the State of Israel must protect the service offered by the airlines.”
    “We have already heard that British Airways has canceled its flights to Israel as of tomorrow. If not the Israeli airlines, who will fly Israelis who are currently overseas back home? I demand that support for the airlines be agreed on this week,” Michaeli said.
    Read more.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 14:40

    Again, Health Ministry Detects Two New Omicron Cases in Indonesia

    TEMPO.CO, Jakarta
    The Indonesian Health Ministry has again detected two patients infected with the Omicron variant in the country, thereby bringing the total case count until Friday to three, according to the ministry's official.
    "The two most recent patients are a male patient, with the initials IKWJ, 42, who traveled from South America and another male patient, with the initials M, 50, who traveled from England. Currently, both are undergoing quarantine at Wisma Atlet," stated spokesperson for COVID-19 Vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi in a written statement on Saturday.
    Tarmizi remarked that the two patients were detected following the results of an examination of samples from five likely Omicron cases wherein the sufferers had recently returned from abroad.
    The first patient infected with Omicron was confirmed on Thursday and had the initials N. He is a janitor at Wisma Atlet Kemayoran.
    The findings were obtained from the results of a special "S-gene target failure" (SGTF) examination conducted by the Health Research and Development Agency on December 14-15, 2021.
    Both patients were confirmed to have contracted Omicron after undergoing mandatory quarantine for 10 days following their return from abroad.
    Tarmizi noted that such strict quarantine showed that the protection system, sought by the government to prevent transmission from COVID-19 sufferers coming from abroad, was running well.
    Following the discovery of two new cases, Tarmizi appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to not travel abroad, given the high rate of spread of the variant.
    "Indonesia is one of the safest countries in terms of COVID-19. If we leave the country, then we will get out of the safe zone to the dangerous one. If we return to our country, the potential for infection with Omicron and transmitting it in Indonesia will disrupt the situation," she stated.
    The number of cases of COVID-19 in several countries in Europe, Africa, and America are currently on a sharp rise to reach a record along with the spread of the Omicron variant, with a transmission rate five times faster than the Delta variant.
    In May and June 2021, Indonesia recorded the highest count of COVID-19 transmission due to the Delta variant, thereby making this situation more challenging for medical personnel at health facilities.
    The government forecasts the return of Indonesian citizens, who are currently abroad, while those, who will travel abroad, will peak in the first and second weeks of January 2022 along with the end of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

    UK reports 12,000 cases of Omicron variant

    The UK reported more than 12,000 further confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the latest daily figures provided by health authorities on Sunday.
    The UK Health Security Agency said on Twitter there had been an additional 12,133 confirmed cases of Omicron over the previous 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 37,101.
    https://twitter.com/UKHSA/status/1472567775478841347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1472567775478841347%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2Flive%2F2021%2Fdec%2F19%2Fcovid-news-live-uk-2m-infections-a-day-germany-restricts-travel-boris-johnson-latest-updates

    The first case of Omicron was announced on 24 November by South Africa, with the first positive sample dating back to 9 November. Since then it has been found in multiple countries around the world, including the UK, where the first cases were reported on 27 November in two people in England with links to travel to southern Africa.
    But the first known case is not the same as the first infection. Echoeing the views of other experts, Professor Oliver Pybus, the co-director of the Oxford Martin school’s programme on pandemic genomics, said that, in his reading, Omicron has likely been circulating for at least a month.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 15:57

    .
    Breaking News 

    Cobra meeting to be held later

    Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay will chair a meeting between the government's emergency committee, Cobra, and the leaders of the devolved nations at 17:00 GMT.
    Confirmation of the meeting comes shortly after the Health Security Agency announced that 12,133 additional cases of the Omicron variant had been reported across the UK.
    This brings the total of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 37,101.

    Officials hint at tougher restrictions in Scotland

    As we just reported, the leaders of the devolved nations are due to meet later today as concern grows over the spread of Omicron.
    In Scotland, senior officials are suggesting that tougher Covid restrictions could be introduced around the new year.
    Prof Jason Leitch, the country's national clinical director, said it was better to "act harder" and "early" while Scotland Office Minister Iain Stewart has said "big decisions" may need to be made.
    Scots are currently being advised to reduce their socialising and limit gatherings to three households.
    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously warned that Omicron was the dominant strain of the virus and a "tsunami" was beginning to hit Scotland.
    You can read more here.

    Omicron raging around the world - US expert

    US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci says travelling increases the risk of spreading coronavirus, even among those people who are fully vaccinated.
    "There's no doubt about this, [Omicron] has an extraordinary capability of spreading," he told NBC News' Meet the Press show on Sunday.
    Dr Fauci, who advises the White House on Covid, says the variant is now "raging through the world".
    "Our hospitals, if things look like they're looking now, are going to be very stressed," he warns.
    "The difference between a vaccinated and boosted person who has an infection, and someone who has an infection who has never been vaccinated - it's a major difference with regard to the risk of severity," Dr Fauci adds.
    More than 77% of the eligible US population has received at least one Covid vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 16:07

    Israel's health ministry seeks broad travel ban

    In Israel, the health ministry has recommended banning Israelis from travelling to the United States in what would be a major step.
    It has also recommended adding several European countries including Italy, Germany and Portugal to its red list for international travel. The UK and most of Africa is already on Israel's red list.
    "European countries are either in lockdown or are heading that way," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, adding that for Israel "time is running out".
    Such measures would have to be approved by parliament.

    Arrests as Netherlands enters strict lockdown

    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 60290e95-70a2-454c-b2ae-1ec21880ae8d
    Football fans clashed with police ahead of a game in Rotterdam


    As we've been reporting here, the Netherlands has today entered a strict lockdown that is expected to remain in force until at least mid-January.
    All non-essential shops are closed, as well as bars and other public venues, and only two guests are permitted per household - four over the holidays - leaving Christmas plans in disarray.
    In the capital, Amsterdam, streets and squares usually filled with people at this time of year shopping and socialising were noticeably quiet.
    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 1e8afa7a-3272-4ffd-8c33-5a77272696c4

    In Rotterdam, hundreds of people gathered outside a football stadium ahead of a game between local team Feyenoord and rivals Ajax Amsterdam.
    Fireworks and bottles were thrown at police, who used water cannon to disperse the crowds. Several arrests were made.
    Fans have been banned from attending sporting events in the Netherlands since the end of November in an effort to limit the spread of Omicron.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 16:11

    Omicron now dominant Covid-19 variant in Ireland

    More than half of new Covid-19 cases in the Republic of Ireland are believed to be Omicron cases, meaning it is now the Republic's dominant variant.
    Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan urged people to get vaccinated and reduce their social contacts.
    He said it had taken less than two weeks for Omicron to become dominant in Ireland, which revealed "just how transmissible this variant is".
    A further 5,124 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported on Sunday.
    From Monday, hospitality venues, cinemas and theatres will have to close at 20:00.
    Read more about the new measures in Ireland, here.

    Wales' Covid measures may not be enough, warns expert

    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 15a628b4-650d-4ea2-91f9-ed66424d05dd
    Wales is likely to see a "tsunami" of Covid cases, according to a public health official.


    Current plans to tackle the Omicron variant in Wales may not be enough, a leading government adviser has said.
    Public Health Wales' Dr Giri Shankar says further restrictions could be needed.
    He adds that Wales is "likely to see a tsunami of cases" in the coming weeks.
    The first minister has already said that other restrictions could be introduced while nightclubs will close from 27 December.
    With the furlough scheme having come to end in September, questions have been raised as to how nightclub staff are going to paid.
    But Mark Drakeford says: "We will look as a government to see if there's any help we can give that sector to support people who would otherwise be laid off.
    "We are certainly not gambling with anybody's livelihood. We've put £60m on the table."

    Breaking News 

    UK reports 82,886 new cases

    A further 82,886 coronavirus cases have been reported in the UK - as the more transmissible Omicron variant continues to surge around the country.
    That figure is down on yesterday's total, which was over 90,000, but significantly up on this time last week
    There have also been a further 45 deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive Covid test.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 16:20

    All sectors in the UK will be affected by Covid-related staff absences

    Covid-19 related staff absences will affect all sectors in the UK including the health services, education, police, transport and key national infrastructure unless transmission is not reduced, a leading public health expert has warned.
    Sir Jeremy Farrar, who resigned in November from a national advisory body in disagreement with the government’s approach, said on Twitter today that Covid-19 and the highly infectious new Omicron variant was not just health issue but also an “economic, education, national infrastructure issue even a security issue.”
    Like other healthcare experts and practitioners, Farrar has been picking up on a report on Saturday in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) that the number of National Health Service (NHS) staff in London absent due to covid has more than doubled in four days.
    One in three of the workforce would be absent by New Year’s Eve if the growth rate continues, it added.
    https://twitter.com/DrNeilStone/status/1472571948018417675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1472571948018417675%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2Flive%2F2021%2Fdec%2F19%2Fcovid-news-live-uk-2m-infections-a-day-germany-restricts-travel-boris-johnson-latest-updates


    Vaccination certificates to be compulsory in Sri Lanka from New Year's Day

    Sri Lanka will require the showing of a Covid-19 vaccination certificate compulsory for entry to public places starting from New Year’s Day, in a renewed attempt to prevent another spike in infections.
    Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga made the announcement on Sunday in an abrupt switch from the gradual ending of restrictions put into place after the country was confronted with a third wave of infections in April caused by the Delta variant.
    Ranatunga said health officials were drawing up arrangements on implementing the decisions, Reuters reported.

    Only those who are vaccinated allowed entry to government-run institutions in UAE

    Entry to all government-run institutions in the United Arab Emirates will be restricted to people who have been vaccinated, according to the state news agency.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 16:27

    Concerns about a new impact on mental health are being expressed in the Netherlands, which has become the first European state to implement a nationwide lockdown.
    “Because people have no view or feel control, they experience a ‘learned helplessness,’” the Dutch news channel, NOS, was told by Andrea Evers, a professor of Health Psychology at Leiden University.
    She saw the announcement of the latest Dutch lockdown as a missed opportunity on the part of Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, to provide more perspective about future plans that might help people to make sense of the situation.
    Unlike other lockdowns in the past, this one differed in that Covid-19 looked set to remain for the time being and there was not the same optimism around the arrival of vaccines.
    Saturday’s announcement of the lockdown, which starts today, came as a shock to many Dutch people as they headed into the Christmas and New Year period. Many people rushed out on Saturday to stock up on presents and food and to get a last-minute haircut.

    Quick recap of events so far today ...

    Ben Quinn - The Guardian
    • Britain’s health secretary, Sajid Javid, has made clear that tougher Covid restrictions could be imposed in England before Christmas, after the government’s Sage committee warned that hospitalisations could peak at between 3,000 and 10,000 a day unless action is taken.
    Javid acknowledged that data about the Omicron variant remained incomplete – but suggested it might be necessary to make decisions before a full picture is available.
    • Shops in the Netherlands were closed and people’s Christmas plans were in disarray as the country began a lockdown on Sunday aimed at limiting an expected Covid-19 surge caused by the rise of the Omicron variant.
    Thousands of peaceful protesters demonstrated in central Brussels on Sunday for a third time against reinforced Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Belgian government to counter a spike infections and the emergence of the worrying omicron variant.
    • Ministers in Britain have been accused of failing to protect the most vulnerable people from rising Covid cases after it emerged that people with blood cancer now account for a higher proportion of coronavirus deaths than earlier in the pandemic.
    With daily case numbers at record highs as a result of the Omicron variant, charities warn that people with suppressed immune systems who had been helped to shield at the start of the pandemic felt obliged to put themselves at risk at work, were confused about how to access treatments and less likely to have protection from vaccines.
    • Omicron is now the dominant strain of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland, according to authorities, who said that recent measures had slowed down the spread somewhat.
    The deputy first minister of Northern Ireland’s power sharing executive, Michelle O’Neill, has warned that Omicron will hit the community there “like a ton of bricks”
    • Iran has detected its first case of infection by the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, state TV has reported. The United Arab Emirates has moved to limit entry to government institutions to people who have been vaccinated.
    • The easily transmissible Omicron variant is “raging through the world, ”the US infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, has warned. He also cautioned that travelling will increase the risk of infection, even among vaccinated people, in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press.
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 16:36

    Over 18s in Northern Ireland can now get Covid booster jabs

    Northern Ireland's Covid-19 booster vaccination programme has opened to over-18s who received their second dose at least three months ago.
    The chief medical officer says Omicron could be the most dominant variant in NI by Christmas and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said it will hit the country "like a tonne of bricks".
    Health trusts are operating walk-in booster vaccination clinics, with up-to-date information on each trust's social media platforms, the Department of Health says.
    Over-30s can currently book a slot online, while bookings are expected to be made available for people in the 18 to 29 age group in the next few days.

    Thousands protest against Covid measures in Belgium

    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 79a805e0-fc6c-4cff-9143-1e5ea0b33fa3

    Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Brussels to protest against coronavirus measures, including the need to show a Covid pass to access bars and restaurants.
    Covid passes are issued to people who have been vaccinated.
    "We think the Covid safe ticket is discriminatory," one protester told Reuters news agency, adding that Belgians should not have their "freedoms" curtailed for refusing jabs.
    Police estimated that about 3,500 people attended Sunday's march. Many waved flags and carried signs reading "I am free, you are free, we are free" and "no to mandatory vaccination".
    Belgium has reported almost two million cases of coronavirus and 27,895 Covid-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

    More than 12,000 new Omicron cases in the UK

    An additional 12,133 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been reported across the UK, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
    This brings the total confirmed cases of the variant in the UK to 37,101.
    However, the true number of Omicron cases is likely to be significantly higher.
    https://twitter.com/UKHSA/status/1472567775478841347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1472567775478841347%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fuk-59716357
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 17:27

    Resignation and frustration in locked-down Netherlands

    Anna Holligan - BBC News Hague correspondent
    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 72bcd895-322f-452e-bebe-b8fd6dbeb1b0

    Larger-than-life inflatable Santas bob outside a Christmas tree stall, enticing customers into one of the few places allowed to stay open in the Netherlands, which is now wholly locked down.
    The window-shopping students I met responded to the closure of bars, restaurants and all non-essential shops with frustration and resignation.
    It feels like a really bad deja vu, one told me. His girlfriend is finding it difficult to accept the pause in what would normally be a packed festive calendar.
    George, a chef in The Hague told me he will be going into work tomorrow but only to throw away all the fresh food they were planning to serve.
    The Dutch PM described this lockdown as an "unavoidable" response to Omicron.
    But his critics point to the mismanagement of the Delta strain and relatively slow rollout of the booster vaccination programme. The over-60s have only just been invited to get their extra shots.
    Across Europe this Christmas, coming together is becoming harder, and riskier, than anyone would have wished.

    The latest UK Covid data

    As we mentioned earlier, a further 82,886 Covid cases were reported across the UK yesterday. That takes the seven-day average for cases to 78,229 per day.
    Last week saw three consecutive record days for daily cases in the UK and that trend is expected to continue next week.
    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 401a5a26-4fc9-4b91-ba67-0c41a95fb65b

    Despite the high cases numbers experienced across the UK, deaths remain stable, with the seven-day average now 111.
    However, death statistics tend to lag about two weeks behind cases, as it takes time for an infected person to fall seriously ill.
    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 90a74232-d751-4239-a291-e4060e53e7c4

    Meanwhile, 49% of the population has now received a third or booster vaccine, while 90% of people have had at least one dose.
    Coronavirus - 19th December 2021 360b5732-6810-4889-9027-6432e89b2758
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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 17:35

    What’s been happening today?


    Here’s a reminder of today’s main coronavirus headlines from around the world:

    • Omicron is now the dominant variant in Ireland, making up more than half of new Covid cases in the Republic
    • Israel’s health ministry has recommended banning Israelis from travelling to the US – it has also recommended adding several European countries including Italy, Germany and Portugal to its red list for international travel
    • Denmark is the latest European country to impose tighter measures, with theatres, cinemas and amusement parks all set to close for the next month
    • Germany announced a ban on British tourists and business travellers entering the country from tonight
    • The Netherlands has entered a month-long lockdown –only essential shops such as supermarkets are allowed to open
    • More than 10,000 people have contracted Covid in the last five days In New South Wales, Australia's most populous state


    And here’s a reminder of today’s main UK headlines:

    • UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid has not ruled out new restrictions before Christmas, saying there are "no guarantees" in the pandemic
    • The government's emergency committee, Cobra, and the leaders of the devolved nations are to meet this evening
    • More restrictions such as social distancing and limits on household mixing are "inevitable", London's mayor Sadiq Khan said
    • In Scotland, senior officials are suggesting tougher Covid restrictions could be introduced around the new year
    • In Wales, a government adviser has warned that measures to be introduced on 27 December may not go far enough
    • Northern Ireland’s deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill warns Omicron is going to hit the country "like a ton of bricks"
    • A further 82,886 cases have been reported in the UK, while another 45 deaths have been recorded within 28 days of a positive test

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    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Dec 2021, 23:35

    Sunday Summary

    Here’s a round-up of Sunday’s developments from around the world on Covid and Omicron.

    • The Netherlands entered a strict lockdown that meant the closure of non-essential stores, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places until 14 January to push back the new wave.
    • Germany followed France and tightened restrictions from Britain, mandating a 14-day quarantine for incoming travellers to avoid an Omicron wave.
    • Pressure builds on UK prime minister Boris Johnson after the Guardian published a picture of him with wine and cheese in the No 10 garden, suggesting a social event, during a strict UK lockdown. No 10 insists the meeting was for work.
    • Poland confirmed seven Omicron cases in total as an official warned the variant is spreading at “unprecedented rate”. A further 15,976 Covid cases were recorded.
    • Peru, the country with the highest Covid deaths per capita and sixth-highest total death toll, detected its first four Omicron cases.
    • The UK recorded above 80,000 new daily cases for only fourth time since pandemic began, and clocked another 12,000 Omicron cases – taking the tally to over 37,000. Health secretary Sajid Javid refused to rule out new restrictions on the Sunday broadcast round. Cases are up 72% in one week.
    • Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert, said the Omicron variant has “extraordinary spreading capabilities” and is “raging through the world”.
    • Ireland said Omicron is now the dominant strain of Covid after an estimated 52% of its cases – 5,124 new cases on Sunday – were from the highly mutated variant.
    • The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency warned of political violence from the country’s anti-vaccine movement with its connections to the far-right.
    • Iran detected its first case of Omicron.
    • Israel’s prime minister, Naftali Bennett, said on Sunday the country is in a fifth Covid wave and urged people to step up vaccinations.
    • US Senator Elizabeth Warren tested positive for Covid after a routine test. She has mild symptoms.
    • 30,000 people in Vienna, Austria commemorated the country’s 13,000 people who have died from the virus with a “sea of lights” march.
    • Italy detected 24,259 new Covid infections, a 62% climb on the 15,010 new cases on Sunday two weeks ago.
    • Sri Lanka will require Covid vaccine certificates for entry to public places from New Year’s Day.
    • Russia recorded 27,967 new Covid infections, a 13% slide on the 32,031 new cases on Sunday two weeks ago.
    • France reported 48,473 new Covid infections, a 15% climb on the 42,252 new cases detected on Sunday two weeks ago.
    • Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa asked for greater law enforcement protection on Sunday after a flurry of threats following its decision to approve Covid vaccines for children aged five to 11. President Jair Bolsonaro, who has played down the virus’s risks, has publicly pressured the agency over the decision.
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