COVID Q&A Are fresh restrictions coming, and is a NewYear party risky?

Q Will there be more Covid restrictions in the New Year?

ABoris Johnson hasn’t ruled out new measures in England. Though recent data suggests Omicron is not as deadly as previous variants, the worry is that if only a fraction of those infected go to hospital, the NHS could soon become overwhelmed.

But some experts say tougher restrictions may not be needed. Earlier this month, infections were doubling every two days and scientists predicted that could continue beyond Christmas. In fact, infection rates of Omicron and Delta combined seem to be doubling about every ten days.

It is thought this may be due partly to more people working from home and compulsory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport, as well as people cancelling festive celebrations.

In Scotland, outdoor events will be limited to 500 people from today, and indoor standing events to 100 spectators.

Q Do we need a fourth dose of the vaccine and, if so, when?

AA fourth jab looks increasingly likely after data released last week by the UK Health Security Agency showed that the booster’s effectiveness against Omicron starts to wear off in ten weeks.

New data shows that, in some people, protection against symptomatic infection fell from between 60 and 70 per cent four weeks after the jab, to between 35 and 45 per cent six weeks later.

If the rollout of a fourth vaccine goes ahead in the UK, it could begin in the next few weeks.

Professor Danny Altmann, a virologist at Imperial College London, said another dose was ‘pretty well inevitable’.

Q Can I still catch Covid at a New Year’s Eve party if everyone there has a negative test result?

A Yes, although the risk is low. There are varying estimates as to how reliable a rapid lateral flow test is. Experts have warned that the time you take the test is key. Omicron can infect rapidly, so scientists advise taking the test as close as possible to the time you meet with others.

People are also advised to repeat lateral flow tests regularly and, if you have symptoms, to assume it’s Covid until proven otherwise by a lateral flow and PCR test.