Thanasis Gavos, London
The latest data gathered on the treatment of coronavirus patients and especially the carriers of the Omicron variant will be presented later in the day to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will be called upon to take decisions on possible tougher measures in England.
Professor Chris Whitney, chief physician of the United Kingdom, and Sir Patrick Valance, chief government adviser to the government, are expected to brief the Prime Minister on critical data, such as the length of time Omicron is being treated, the percentage of patients being admitted to intensive care units and the proportion of those receiving intensive care.
The minutes of the most recent meeting of the SAGE Scientific Committee advising the government contain a recommendation for measures from 28 December, with restrictions on indoor gatherings, catering operation only outdoors and possibly a limit on the number of people who can meet outdoors. places.
However, according to reports, the government is encouraged by last week’s studies showing that Omicron has a lower risk of hospitalization than Delta, and ministers are still resisting further restrictions. One option for Mr. Johnson would be to make a stronger recommendation to citizens to be careful, but for the time being at least to avoid legal adoption of measures.
Beyond that, however, government scientific advisers and representatives of medical associations are calling on Boris Johnson to take steps to prevent excessive pressure on the public health system. As Dr. Paul Donaldson, secretary general of the Association of Clinical Hospital Managers, points out to the Guardian, it would be “ridiculous” not to take action, as free Christmas rallies will inevitably have contributed to the spread of Omicron.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, on the other hand, decentralized governments have imposed more restrictions, some of which are in place today.
Indicatively, the nightclubs have closed, the obligation to keep distances in public places and the limits for those allowed to attend events in open and closed spaces have returned.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, groups of up to six people are allowed in pubs, and the Belfast government has additionally banned indoor events.
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