THE Covid-19 pandemic is nearly over as far as the UK is concerned, the World Health Organisation has declared.
Infections and hospital cases are falling across the country — the first time both measures have dropped since the ultra-contagious Covid variant swept the UK at the end of last year.
The World Health Organization’s Covid special envoy David Nabarro said Britain could now see “light at the end of the tunnel”.
And Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, predicted that life could be back to normal by the summer.
He said: “Covid will soon be just one of the causes of the common cold and will be a pain in the behind, maybe flaring up in winter.
"We will need boosters for the most vulnerable but I can’t see widespread mask use or testing being warranted.
Read our covid live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Louis Allwood
Boris Johnson set to make major announcement THIS WEEK
BORIS Johnson will announce THIS WEEK whether he is ditching Plan B restrictions, Downing Street hinted today.
Working from home, mandatory indoor mask-wearing and vaccine passports are set to expire next Wednesday.
No10 this morning vowed to reveal whether they intend to extend the measures beyond January 26 in plenty of time.
The PM's official spokesman said: "I think you'd expect us, as we've always sought to do is give the maximum amount of time possible.
"I don't have a specific date for you. But certainly we will look to announce our position in advance to those changes coming into effect."
- Joseph Gamp
Sajid Javid: Britain is winning the war on Omicron
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said Britain is winning the war on Omicron.
He added: “I have always said that these restrictions should not stay in place a day longer than absolutely necessary.
"Due to . . . the likelihood that we have already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations, I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce restrictions next week.”
Scientists agree that things are heading the right way.
- Joseph Gamp
Boris Johnson will tell Cabinet to tear up Plan B lockdown restrictions TOMORROW
BORIS Johnson will today summon his Cabinet to free England from Plan B restrictions.
The PM will scrap working from home and vaccine passports from January 26.
But he will also warn the threat is not yet over and Brits will be urged to wear masks in shops and on public transport
The PM hopes the move will buy him some much-needed support among his backbenches
- Joseph Gamp
Listed: Common symptoms of Omicron
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Cough
- Nausea
- Muscle pains
- Diarrhoea
- Skin rash
Covid is turning kids into fussy eaters, experts warn
The virus is putting growing numbers of youngsters off their favourite foods by triggering parosmia – a change in the sense of smell.
It can lead to chocolate whiffing of petrol and lemons having the pong of old cabbage.
While this is a another side effect of Covid, experts have said that the Omicron variant is a milder one than those that came before it.
Professor Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, said cases of parosmia in kids were “almost unheard of in children” before the pandemic.
But now “presentations in children are becoming increasingly common”.
He added: “Parosmia is thought to be a product of having less smell receptors working which leads to only being able to pick up some of the components of a smell mixture.”
Covid guidance said people should 'minimise' workplace gatherings
Lockdown rules when Boris Johnson attended the drinks do in the No 10 garden barred people from leaving their homes without "reasonable excuse" while official guidance said they should "minimise" workplace gatherings.
The Prime Minister has said he believed the gathering on May 20 2020 had been a "work event" and may have "technically" been permitted within the rules.
However some lawyers have questioned his explanation, saying it was hard to argue that a social event was "necessary" for work purposes.
A week before No 10 staff were invited to "bring your own bottle" to the Downing Street garden, the rules for England had been significantly eased for the first time since the country went into lockdown in March 2020.
In particular, restrictions on outdoor exercise were lifted and some strictly limited outdoor mixing with one other person from another household was allowed provided two metres social-distancing was maintained.
However many of the original regulations remained in place with the regulations setting out in law what counted as a "reasonable excuse" for people to leave their homes.
UK records 94,432 new cases in 24 hours
Today has seen 94,432 new cases in the past 24 hours, with 438 fatalities also recorded.
Deaths have risen compared to the past few days, but are still not near the levels seen in the Alpha peak last year of over 1,000.
This fits with the pattern of a Covid wave however – a few weeks on from high cases, some extra deaths will now sadly catch up for those harder hit with the virus.
This time last week there had been 120,821 new daily cases recorded, as the country shows promising signs of the variant wave having peaked.
The benefits of booster jabs
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
Symptoms are appearing to be slightly different in people who have been vaccinated against Covid.
Boris Johnson set to make major announcement THIS WEEK
BORIS Johnson will announce THIS WEEK whether he is ditching Plan B restrictions, Downing Street hinted today.
Working from home, mandatory indoor mask-wearing and vaccine passports are set to expire next Wednesday.
No10 this morning vowed to reveal whether they intend to extend the measures beyond January 26 in plenty of time.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “I think you’d expect us, as we’ve always sought to do is give the maximum amount of time possible.
“I don’t have a specific date for you. But certainly we will look to announce our position in advance to those changes coming into effect.”
- Joseph Gamp
There have even been reports that all Covid measures in England, including self-isolation, may be binned from the end of March.
From next week Brits will able to go back to the office and attend mass events like the footy without showing their vaccination status or a negative test.
Rules stating that kids have to wear masks in the classroom are also likely to be dropped from the middle of next week.
Although cases are dropping Omicron is still spreading throughout the UK with thousands testing positive each day. Knowing the signs is important, as it means you stand less chance of accidentally passing on the virus.
A string of hugely positive studies show Omicron is milder than other strains in the vaccinated, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
- Joseph Gamp
Health secretary 'cautiously optimistic' that curbs will be axed
In a huge boost to millions of Brits the Health Secretary said he's "cautiously optimistic" many curbs on daily life will be axed.
Addressing MPs, he said it's likely the UK has "already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations" caused by the Omicron wave.
And he said Britain is in a much better place to combat the virus thanks to our high vaccination rates and new treatments.
He told the Commons: "I have always said that these restrictions should not stay in place a day longer than absolutely necessary.
"Due to these pharmaceutical defences and the likelihood that we have already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations, I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce measures next week."
- Joseph Gamp
Boosters provide the most protection
It comes as a string of hugely positive studies show Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.
Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits’ arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.
- Joseph Gamp
UK daily Covid cases down 21% on last week
THE UK's daily Covid cases has dropped 21 per cent on last week, as ministers hint they are preparing to drop Plan B measures.
Sajid Javid told the House of Commons he thinks the country has made it through the Omicron wave, and is almost ready to lose some restrictions.
Today has seen 94,432 new cases in the past 24 hours, with 438 fatalities also recorded.
- Joseph Gamp
Covid guidance said people should 'minimise' workplace gatherings
Lockdown rules when Boris Johnson attended the drinks do in the No 10 garden barred people from leaving their homes without "reasonable excuse" while official guidance said they should "minimise" workplace gatherings.
The Prime Minister has said he believed the gathering on May 20 2020 had been a "work event" and may have "technically" been permitted within the rules.
However some lawyers have questioned his explanation, saying it was hard to argue that a social event was "necessary" for work purposes.
A week before No 10 staff were invited to "bring your own bottle" to the Downing Street garden, the rules for England had been significantly eased for the first time since the country went into lockdown in March 2020.
In particular, restrictions on outdoor exercise were lifted and some strictly limited outdoor mixing with one other person from another household was allowed provided two metres social-distancing was maintained.
However many of the original regulations remained in place with the regulations setting out in law what counted as a "reasonable excuse" for people to leave their homes.
- Joseph Gamp
PM publicly apologises to the Queen
Boris Johnson has publicly apologised to the Queen and the country over events in Downing Street on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.
Two parties were held in No 10 at a time of national mourning and with England under restrictions banning indoor mixing of households. The Prime Minister, who was at Chequers at the time of the parties in April 2021, appeared emotional when he was asked about the incidents.
He could be heard breathing heavily behind his face mask when asked for his response to the events.
"I deeply and bitterly regret that that happened," he said.
Downing Street has previously confirmed that an apology had been offered to Buckingham Palace after the parties came to light, but that was delivered through officials.
Mr Johnson publicly apologised to the Queen as he faced the cameras on Tuesday at Finchley Memorial Hospital in north London.
"I can only renew my apologies both to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgments that were made, and for which I take full responsibility."
- Louis Allwood
The Sun’s Jab Army needs YOU
Although Omicron is markedly milder than previous variants, the sheer number of cases have left up to a million people self-isolating and threatening widespread disruption to schools and the economy.
Ministers also say the combination of boosters and Plan B measures are “working” and are not expected to announce fresh measures.
A third jab also significantly slashes the risk of falling seriously ill – and The Sun’s Jab’s Army campaign is helping get vital boosters in people’s arms.
- Louis Allwood
PM rocked by claims he lied in Parliament
The PM, who had been isolating after a family member tested positive for Covid, was last night rocked by claims he lied to Parliament.
Scorned ex-aide Mr Cummings insisted the PM WAS told about the "bring your own booze" bash in May 2020 – but "waved it aside".
His accusation contradicts Mr Johnson's claim he had no prior knowledge of the knees-up in the Downing Street garden during lockdown.
Cabinet colleagues suggested the PM would have to resign if found to have lied to Parliament over the Partygate saga.
But Mr Johnson stuck to his story and said: "Nobody said to me this is an event that is against the rules, that is in breach of what we're asking everybody else to do, it should not go ahead.
"What I remember is going out into that garden for a short time and for 25 minutes thanking staff who'd worked on Covid, who were continuing to work on Covid, and then going back to office
"If I had my time again, I would not have allowed things to develop in that way."
- Louis Allwood
Agonising penis pain is found to be rare side effect of Covid
Writing in a medical journal, the Iranian team described how the virus led to blood clotting in the poor man’s shaft.
The unnamed male had suffered penile pain for three days before being seen by a urologist in Iran, who referred him for tests.
The discomfort began following an erection while having sex, the 41-year-old married man told doctors.
He had not experienced any trauma to his pelvic area that might explain his symptom.
But he had a positive Covid PCR test three weeks prior, radiologist Seyed Morteza Bagheri and a colleague from the Iran University of Medical Sciences wrote in the journal Clinical Case Reports.
Nothing was out of the ordinary about his Covid illness. doctors noted.
He had mild symptoms including fever, cough and fatigue and did not need to take any medication.
- Louis Allwood
Restrictions set to be ‘substantially reduced’ next week
In a huge boost to millions of Brits the health secretary said he's "cautiously optimistic" many curbs on daily life will be axed.
Addressing MPs, he said it's likely the UK has "already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations" caused by the Omicron wave.
And he said Britain is in a much better place to combat the virus thanks to our high vaccination rates and new treatments.
He told the Commons: "I have always said that these restrictions should not stay in place a day longer than absolutely necessary.
"Due to these pharmaceutical defences and the likelihood that we have already reached the peak of the case numbers of hospitalisations, I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce restrictions next week."
- Louis Allwood
Major developments
- Dominic Raab suggested the PM will have to resign if found to have lied to the Commons
- Rishi Sunak said he "of course" believes the PM's version of events
- Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refused to apologise for drinking beer in lockdown
- Mr Johnson is preparing to lift Plan B restrictions next week
‘No one told me it was against the rules’
The ashen-faced PM once again apologised for the No10 booze bash – but repeated his defence that he believed it was a "work event".
Breaking cover for the first time in days, he said: "I can't believe that we would have gone ahead with an event that people were saying was against the rules.
"Nobody warned me that it was against the rules. I can absolutely categorically say that because I would remember that."
The PM also repeated his apology to the Queen about the two parties held the night before Prince Philip's socially-distanced funeral.
He said: "I deeply and bitterly regret that that that that happened and I can only renew my apologies both to to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgements that were made and for which I take full responsibility."
- Louis Allwood
Long Covid patients also struggle with fainting spells
Long Covid patients have reportedly also struggled with fainting spells.
Data from Italy, Spain and Portugal found from more than 14,000 Covid patients 4.2 per cent said they had felt faint or fainted in the early stage of the infection.
It seems to be affecting people over the age of 60 more frequently.
It comes as around 20 Omicron symptoms have been revealed as ones you are most likely to get.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t others that could pop up, but these have been most reported by people who caught the variant.
- Louis Allwood
By all the laws of political gravity, Boris Johnson is doomed
This is a comment piece by Trevor Kavanagh
BY all the laws of political gravity, Boris is doomed – clinging by his fingertips until Dominic Cummings chooses to finish him off with hobnailed boots.
Even a barrage of “red meat” policies to tempt unhappy voters is unlikely to save this Prime Minister.
If so, the most remarkable politician of our age will be paying a high price indeed for a shockingly ill-timed BYOB party.
It’s all his own fault, of course. He has ducked all the rules of survival, made it up as he went along and refused the best advice from well-meaning allies.
He will be evicted just as he leads us from the pandemic which almost cost him his life.The shortest Downing Street reign in living memory will end as the last Covid shackles are broken and the economy bursts back with the fastest recovery in Europe.
BoJo’s many enemies in the Tory party and elsewhere, especially the Remainiacs, the Whitehall Blob and the BBC, are already licking their lips.
They will be joined by ungrateful Red Wall MPs who owe him their unexpected seats in Parliament.
Their joy may be unconfined. It may also be short lived.
- Louis Allwood
Full list of affected postcodes
Here's the full list of areas affected by the disruption:
- Amersham DO (HP6, HP7 and HP8)
- Amesbury (SP3 and SP4)
- Barking DO (IG11)
- Bicester DO (OX25 to OX27)
- Bredbury DO (SK6)
- Bridge Of Don DO (AB22 and AB23)
- Bristol South DO (BS3, BS13 and BS41)
- Burgess Hill DO (BN6 and RH15)
- Caldicot DO (NP26)
- Camberwell (SE5)
- Cramlington DO (NE23)
- Cricklewood DO (NW2)
- Erskine DO (PA7 and PA8)
- Gerrads Cross DO (SL9)
- Golders Green DO (NW11)
- Hanwell (W7)
- Herne Hill DO (SE24)
- Histon SPDO (CB4 9XX)
- Hitchin DO (SG4 and SG5)
- Holloway DO (N7)
- Hornsey DO (N8)
- Hoylake DO (CH47 and CH48)
- Islington DO (N1 and N1C)
- Larkhall DO (ML9 and ML10)
- Maida Hill DO (W9)
- Manchester South West DO (M15, M16 and M32)
- Muswell Hill DO (N10)
- Newton Mearns DO (G77)
- Northwich DO (CW8 and CW9)
- Paisley DO (PA1, PA2 and PA3)
- Perth DO (PH1. PH2 and PH14)
- Peterlee DO (SR8)
- Pontefract DO (WF7, WF8, WF9 and WF11)
- Rayleigh DO (SS6)
- Redcar DO (TS10 and TS11)
- Rottingdean DO (BN2 and BN51)
- South Croydon DO (CR2)
- Swindon West DO (SN5)
- Thame DO (OX9 and OX39)
- The Hyde DO (NW9)
- Upminster DO (RM14)
- Upton DO (CH30 and CH39)
- Wallasey DO (CH27, CH44 and CH45)
- Wantage DO (OX12)
- West Norwood DO (SE27)
- West Wickham DO (BR4)
- Willesden DO (NW10 and NW26)
- Wootton Bassett DO (SN4 and SN16)
Royal Mail warns of delays in 56 postcodes due to Covid
Royal Mail issued its daily service update yesterday morning, with no fewer than 56 postcodes set for slower than usual deliveries.
Areas affected include London, Glasgow, Yorkshire and Manchester.
Royal Mail services also struggled over Christmas under the weight of extra sick days, resourcing problems and "other local factors".
The bad news follows delays at a similar time last year across 28 postcodes – but that figure has now doubled.
And the "pingdemic" last July forced further sluggishness in various parts of the country.
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