Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WINTER DITHER 2
PM inaction risks new surge as cases soar Families beg: Avoid last year’s deadly blunders
BORIS Johnson’s dithering over a winter Covid plan risks sparking another deadly surge as cases continue to soar, bereaved families warned last night.
And they urged the PM not to repeat last year’s blunders in which he relaxed curbs in the run up to Christmas only for him to have to impose them again as deaths rose.
Grieving relatives begged Mr Johnson to urgently implement a Plan B of mandatory face masks, working from home and vaccine passports for big events in a bid to save lives and avoid tougher restrictions later.
But the stubborn PM rejected the plea, despite Covid cases hitting 52,009 yesterday – the highest daily number since mid-july.
And while he ruled out a Plan B – instead pinning his hopes on a faltering booster programme – there were reports No10 is considering a
BOOST FOR THIRD JAB ROLL-OUT
Plan C of banning households from mixing in the run up to the festivities.
Amid the confusion, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice said: “Please Prime Minister, do not repeat your mistakes of last year.
“Do not decide to jeopardise the lives of people across the country.
“Instead, decide to put lives ahead of politics.”
Co-founder Matt Fowler added: “The Government cannot keep pretending it has not been given a winter warning about the Christmas catastrophe that their inaction threatens to bring.
“Last winter tens of thousands of us lost loved ones and we will never again see their faces.
“The decisions of this government, once again sticking their heads in the sand rather than taking decisive action, will contribute to more pain, loss and heartache.
“Simply talking about the vaccine programme does not mitigate or change the nearly 1,000 deaths a week we face as a country.”
BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul accused Mr Johnson of “wilful negligence” over his refusal to
OVER-50S can now book their booster shots themselves rather than waiting for an invite from the NHS.
NHS England has opened the national booking system to allow the public to make an appointment for a booster vaccine a week after becoming eligible.
A Government campaign advert is also being launched on our TV screens today, asking people to “get vaccinated, get boosted, get
bring in limited restrictions now. Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said it was time for the Government to implement Plan B.
But he also urged No10 to step up the booster programme, which has slowed down so much it may not be complete until next spring, and get protected.” The advert will be seen in prime-time slots alongside soaps such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Daytime shows such as This Morning and Loose Women will also
more children inoculated. Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol, accused the Government of complacency over daily Covid deaths, with 115 fatalities recorded yesterday.
He said: “We’re being told that somehow it’s okay because there’s only 150 to 200 deaths a day. It really isn’t be targeted. Health Secretary Sajid Javid, said: “As we go into winter, it is vital eligible people get their booster jab and flu jab to protect themselves, their loved ones and the NHS.”
The over-50s and younger people with chronic conditions are eligible for a top-up jab six months after their second dose.
But around 4.5 million who have been double-jabbed for at least six months are yet to have the booster.
OK. It’s a very big deal.” Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned new infections could reach 100,000 a day.
Some scientists believe they are already at that level because half of cases are thought to be asymptomatic.
Under Plan C proposals, people could also be urged to take tests
No10 can’t keep on pretending it’s not had a winter warning MATT FOWLER BEREAVED FAMILIES GROUP CHIEF
before festive gatherings with family and friends.
One Whitehall source said: “The focus is on measures that can be taken without a major economic impact. So keeping shops, pubs and restaurants open but looking at other ways to reduce the risks.” But No10 denied the reports and insisted the plan was not “being actively considered”. Mr Johnson was yesterday on a visit to a school in Crumlin, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, where he insisted “we are sticking with our plan while watching the numbers carefully”.
The PM acknowledged case numbers were high but said they were “within the parameters” forecast by scientists advising the Government.
No10 insisted there was still spare capacity in the NHS and that Plan B would only be activated if it came under “significant pressure”.
Mr Johnson also urged the over-50s to get their booster jabs.
Latest official figures showed 223,816 were given yesterday – still half the daily number of earlier this year.
Labour-run Wales already has a version of Plan B with compulsory masks in shops, on public transport and in hospitals and social care.
COMPLACENT and incompetent, Boris Johnson is risking more unnecessary deaths by ignoring experts calling for the return of Covid masks in England.
With daily infection rates topping 50,000 for the first time since July across the UK, fears are heightening that an underpowered booster jab programme is failing to keep up.
The administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have adopted safeguards shunned by Tory-ruled England, so there will be no hiding place for the Prime Minister if his judgment turns out again to be fatally flawed.
When Jacob Rees-mogg said unmasked Tory MPS crowded on the Commons’ green benches are friends, and can therefore ignore the Health Secretary’s advice to cover up, it was the arrogance of a government that let the bodies pile up before – and is threatening to do so again.