UK reviews COVID-19 rules before Christmas
LONDON — Britain’s health secretary has refused to rule out imposing tougher COVID-19 restrictions before Christmas amid the rapid rise of infections and continuing uncertainty about the omicron variant.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Sunday that the government was assessing the situation and urged the public to be cautious as scientists examine the data.
Much is unknown about the variant, even as hospitals brace for a surge in infections, he told the BBC.
“There are no guarantees in this pandemic, I don’t think,” Javid replied when asked about the potential for new restrictions. “At this point we just have to keep everything under review.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week reinstated rules requiring face masks in shops and ordered people to show proof of vaccination or a negative virus test before entering nightclubs and other crowded venues.
Vaccination sites are being asked to operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week with shopping centers, cathedrals and soccer stadiums turned into mass vaccination centers. Some sites are working 24 hours a day.
The British Medical Association warned that almost 50,000 doctors, nurses and other National Health Service staff in England could be off sick with
COVID-19 by Christmas Day unless additional measures are introduced.
The government Sunday reported 82,886 more COVID-19 cases. With over 147,000 deaths, Britain has Europe’s highest COVID-19 death toll after Russia.
Nations across Europe are reimposing tougher measures. The Dutch government began a nationwide lockdown Sunday, and ministers in Austria, Cyprus, France and Germany have tightened travel restrictions.