DOOM: Plan B

[AtW]

"Ministers expected to sign off plan B Covid rules for England

Rules on home working and vaccine certification likely to be among changes brought in to tackle Omicron surge

Ministers are expected to sign off new rules to impose home working and vaccine certification across England in the face of rising Covid cases, the Guardian understands.

Downing Street said no final decisions had been made but ministers and officials convened on Wednesday to move to plan B and to begin
imposing some restrictions as early as Wednesday night.

Ministers are increasingly worried about the threat of the Omicron variant, which appears to be more transmissible than Delta and scientists believe could become dominant within the next few weeks.

They are concerned that it risks overwhelming the NHS in another Covid wave even if no more serious than Delta, because of the speed with which it appears to be spreading."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...es-for-england

Still no vaccine certificate required for posting tulip on here?

[SueEllen]

Could be worse - https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-testing-rules

Senior health officials have drawn up advice saying the UK should bring back stricter isolation and testing rules for contacts of Covid cases, amid concerns that triggering plan B is not enough to stop the spread of Omicron.

Top officials at the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) have given three different options to help contain the threat, which at the strictest end would mean all contacts of Covid cases being asked to isolate again regardless of age or vaccination status. Other options would be asking contacts of positive Covid tests to isolate until a PCR test result, with subsequent daily lateral flows, or requiring the contacts to take daily lateral flows. They give further advice in favour of a return to working from home and an extension of mandatory mask wearing.

[AtW]

But ... but ... malvolio says it's all fine???

[SueEllen]

Plan B is coming as the resignations have started -

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...as-party-video

Allegra Stratton has stepped down as the government’s spokesperson for the Cop26 climate summit after footage of her emerged joking about a party at Downing Street during the peak of lockdown rules in December last year.
At the time the video was shot, Stratton was Boris Johnson’s press secretary. The exchanges about the party with other No 10 officials were filmed as part of rehearsals for a proposed daily televised Downing Street press briefing, which she was going to host.
After the planned briefings were axed, Stratton moved to her Cop26 role. A former journalist for the Guardian, BBC and ITV, Stratton also worked for the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, before switching to No 10.

[d000hg]

Working from home if possible and wearing masks... hardly a huge deal. I don't really see how this is going to make a large difference, calling it Plan B is rather overblowing it.

[TwoWolves]

If they introduce vaccine passports they will never be repealed, it's curtains for freedom in Britain.

[d000hg]

If they introduce vaccine passports they will never be repealed, it's curtains for freedom in Britain.

In what way does it impinge on your freedom? Compared for instance to the fact you may already have to prove your ID to enter a bar or nightclub.
You'll have the freedom not to get a passport - unlike other nations who are now making vaccination mandatory for instance.

[SueEllen]

If they introduce vaccine passports they will never be repealed, it's curtains for freedom in Britain.

It is mandatory vaccination by the back door.

Except some of the non-vaccinated aren't in the country....

[SueEllen]

Javid is speaking in the Commons...

[SueEllen]

Johnson is speaking in the 2.5M Dowing street briefing room...