Millions of Britons today have received a huge boost that their number one Christmas wish – to be with their family members – could come true this year.
According to reports, families could be given a small window of time to enjoy the holiday season with loved ones at Christmas.
The British could get relaxed restrictions for up to five days during the Christmas season if new plans were considered by ministers, the Sun reports.
Heads of government are also considering proposals that would allow the Times to create family bubbles of up to two or three households to meet for Christmas.
According to The i, ministers could ease restrictions even further and allow four households to meet.
The welcome news came when Downing Street announced yesterday evening that Boris Johnson wanted to "make sure people could spend time with close families" over Christmas. However, no decision has yet been made on the plans.
Ministers and experts reportedly want to review the direction of Covid death and infection numbers across the UK before giving the green light to proposals.
However, hopes for a family Christmas were further bolstered last night after UK case numbers continued to decline.
The latest Covid-19 update was released yesterday evening:
- The UK recorded 1.7% fewer coronavirus cases than last Tuesday, with 20,051 new infections – as the death toll climbs 12.4% to 598 in a week;
- Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to make travel outside of Level 3 and 4 areas illegal as it puts strict restrictions on 2.3 million people in Scotland.
- A devastating report exposed chronic bungling and “jobs for friends” who were in a hurry to get safety gear during the pandemic.
- The study shows that even survivors with mild COVID-19 are protected for at least 8 months and their immune memory can last MUCH longer.
- A new study found that even survivors with mild COVID-19 are protected for at least 8 months and their immune memory can last MUCH longer.
- Another report claimed that summer Covid-19 cases in the UK were 16 times higher than official figures suggest – more than 5 MILLION Britons had been infected by the end of August
Millions of Brits received a huge boost today that their number one Christmas wish – to be with their family members – could come true this year. Pictured: Pedestrians wearing face masks walk past Christmas lights on Oxford Street yesterday
The five-day period has reportedly been chosen as Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday this year. This means that many, but not all, workers will then have Christmas and Boxing Day off, followed by Sunday December 27th and a scheduled public holiday on Monday December 28th
Ministers and experts reportedly want to review the direction of Covid death numbers (pictured above) and infection numbers across the UK before giving the green light to proposals
However, hopes for a family Christmas were further bolstered last night after the case numbers (pictured) continued to drop in the UK
According to the proposals reported in the sun, households are allowed to mingle for up to five days from Christmas Eve.
The five-day period has reportedly been chosen as Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday this year.
This means that many, but not all, workers will then have Christmas and Boxing Day off, followed by Sunday December 27th and a scheduled public holiday on Monday December 28th.
Ministers reportedly want to standardize the rules in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – which have had different Covid restrictions recently.
However, according to the Times, the easing of restrictions could be for a slightly shorter period of two to three days.
The paper also reports that the number of households that can mix into "bubbles" could be limited to two or three households.
Scientific advisors have reportedly urged the government to loosen the rules too much, with some warning case numbers likely to double or quadruple over the Christmas season.
No decisions have yet been made and the talks between the four nations will take place at a later date.
A Downing Street spokesman told the Sun last night, "We are looking for ways to ensure that at the end of an incredibly difficult year, people have time with close families over Christmas."
The reports find themselves amid a split among cabinet members over plans for a "strengthened" Covid tier system that could see indoor socializing banned for months in much of the country.
Ministers are preparing for a fierce battle over the details of a tightened system of "regional" restrictions to be released next week.
A Whitehall source said Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove are trying to "contain everything" and allow only a modest relaxation of restrictions if the current lockdown rules expire on December 2nd.
Other senior ministers, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Economy Minister Alok Sharma, Trade Minister Liz Truss, Culture Minister Oliver Dowden and Interior Minister Priti Patel, are said to be bracing themselves for a wider reopening so that companies can save some of their Christmas sales.
The new restrictions are expected to last for months, just the short break over Christmas to allow more contact with family and friends.
Downing Street yesterday insisted that Boris Johnson, who has self-isolated and had contact with another Tory MP who tested positive for Covid, remains determined to end current restrictions on December 2nd.
According to the proposals reported in the sun, households are allowed to mingle for up to five days from Christmas Eve
As Downing Street said yesterday, Boris Johnson "wanted to make sure people had time with close families over Christmas".
A Whitehall source said Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured left) and Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove are trying to "contain everything" and allow only a modest relaxation of restrictions if current lockdown rules expire on December 2nd. Other high-ranking ministers, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured right), are said to be preparing for a more comprehensive reopening so that companies can save part of their Christmas business.
However, according to the Daily Telegraph, households could be banned from mingling if the lockdown ends to "save Christmas".
The newspaper says the ban could last until "just before Christmas" to allow for a festive "bladder system".
However, no decisions have been made as to which tiered restriction structure will replace it.
Plans for an "end of lockdown" package, including more details on the country's vaccination program, are expected to be announced next week.
On Monday, Susan Hopkins, director of Public Health England, warned that the animal system needed to be "strengthened" to prevent the virus from recurring once the lockdown ended.
She said Tier One – the only level that allowed indoor socializing – had "very little effect".
Documents released last week by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modeling, which reports to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Emergencies (Sage), stated that while there was a "marked effect" on infection rates from rigorous Tier 3 interventions, but "much less of it" levels one and two & # 39 ;.
The SPI-M group anticipates infections will increase at the same rate as before if the same three-tier system is reintroduced on December 2nd.
However, many ministers fear that the economy would suffer another major blow if large numbers of companies were to close before Christmas.
Tory MPs are also preparing to fight the issue, with a warning that up to 100 could rebel next week if the new restrictions are pulled too tight.
A Whitehall source admitted that the government would face "political trouble" if the hospitality sector fails to reopen before Christmas.
Community Secretary Robert Jenrick said yesterday that he hopes most hotel businesses are allowed to reopen.
However, he acknowledged that restrictions would likely just be "a little easier" after the current lockdown ended.
In a round of radio interviews, Jenrick said any extension of the lockdown would require a parliamentary vote.
"We hope and expect that this is not the case and that the people of England can go back to the tiered system," he said.
Sir John Bell, a member of the government's vaccines task force, said the government will not be able to "take our foot off the brakes completely" when the lockdown ends.
However, he said developments in mass testing could help ease restrictions. "I'm optimistic that we don't have to go into Christmas time," he said.
Professor Neil Ferguson, whose modeling resulted in the original lockdown in March, said reopening pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas would likely lead to an increase in infection rates.
He told BBC Radio 4's PM broadcast: “The big question is whether we can reopen pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas and still avoid the infection rates rising.
"I suspect we can't, but the decision can still be made as any climb will be slow and may be counteracted later."
The British Medical Association last night called for the "six rule", which allowed mixing up to six households, to be replaced by a "two-house rule".
It is because the UK had 1.7 percent fewer coronavirus cases last night than last week. This is further evidence that the UK's second wave is slowing, new figures show.
The government today announced 20,051 new laboratory-confirmed Covid cases in the UK, compared to 20,412 infections confirmed last Tuesday.
The number is also a decrease from the 21,363 cases confirmed on Monday. The total number of infections in the UK since the pandemic started is 1,410,732.
Professor Neil Ferguson (pictured), whose modeling resulted in the original lockdown in March, said reopening pubs and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas would likely lead to an increase in infection rates
The Ministry of Health announced that an additional 598 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday – up 12.4 percent from the same point last week when 532 deaths were recorded.
Yesterday's death toll is the UK's highest since May 12, when 614 deaths were confirmed. The latest death toll brings Britain to 52,745.
However, separate data from the UK statistical authorities suggests that there have been more than 68,000 deaths from Covid-19 in the UK.
This includes deaths where the virus was mentioned on the death certificate, as well as additional data on deaths that have occurred in the past few days.
Figures released yesterday by the Office of National Statistics showed that the number of people dying from Covid-19 rose 40 percent in the first week of November – when the virus was responsible for one in six deaths in England and Wales.
It was not explained last night why deaths rose sharply, although it could be a delayed surge after a surge in Covid cases last week.
The numbers come when Nicola Sturgeon announced last night that parts of Scotland, home to millions of people, will be brought to the harshest coronavirus levels by the end of the week as she warned that infection rates would remain "stubbornly high".
The First Minister said 11 council areas, which include the city of Glasgow, will be subject to level 4 restrictions from 6pm on Friday. The areas have a total population of approximately 2.3 million people.
Individuals living in fourth-level areas are not allowed to meet with other households indoors while all non-essential businesses are closed.
In an announcement to the Scottish Parliament, Ms. Sturgeon told people in those areas that they "shouldn't be on the move" while the action takes place for the three weeks ending December 11th.
The SNP chairman also announced that she would make entering or leaving areas of levels three and four illegal "except for certain essential purposes".
There are already guidelines in place telling people not to take such trips, but Ms. Sturgeon said the council would become law from Friday. This means that rule violations have the prospect of enforcement action by the police.
Nicola Sturgeon announced today that eleven local authorities will be brought to the toughest coronavirus level from Friday
The municipal areas in Scotland moving to level four starting Friday are the city of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.
Ms. Sturgeon said there were "grounds for continued and significant concern" in all areas moving to Stage Four.
In addition to the 11 areas being raised to the top level, two areas will be moved from level three to level two, while 19 will not experience any changes.
Pound 18 Billion Coronavirus PPE Fiasco: Devastating Report Reveals Chronic Bungling and "Jobs For Friends" In A Rush To Get Safety Gear During The Pandemic
By Daniel Martin and Emine Sinmaz for the Daily Mail
A devastating report today breaks the guise of cronyism and ineptitude that marked the government's £ 18 billion rush to procure PPE and other equipment during the coronavirus crisis.
Michael Gove and Dominic Cummings were both dragged into the debacle after the spending watchdog said officials ignored potential conflicts of interest from their affiliates.
The National Audit Office announced that officials had signed contracts for hundreds of thousands of face masks that were found to be unusable and wasted hundreds of millions of pounds.
According to the National Audit Office's report, the government has placed over 1,300 contracts worth £ 10.5 billion without any competition
The bomb report found:
- Two of the companies named in the report have ties to the Prime Minister's former chief advisor.
- More than 1,300 contracts worth £ 10.5 billion have been awarded by the government with no competition whatsoever – which increases the likelihood of wasting money;
- Ministers set up a separate VIP procurement route, which allowed some companies to make decisions quickly – provided they had the right connections.
- Every tenth supplier processed via this high priority lane (47 out of 493) received contracts, compared to fewer than one in 100 suppliers who came via the normal lane (104 out of 14,892).
Rachel Reeves, spokeswoman for the Labor Cabinet Office, said, "The country deserves the confidence that its money is being effectively spent by the government – and knowing, without a doubt, that Conservative Party friends and donors are not benefiting from this pandemic."
The NAO report looked at 8,600 contracts awarded by the government between January and July.
These were valued at £ 18bn, of which £ 17.3bn were new contracts rather than contract renewals. Most of the money, £ 12.3 billion, went to PSA, the rest to other equipment and virus testing.
Ministers, MPs and officials were able to direct companies to a “high priority” lane, and companies granted this VIP access were more than ten times more likely to win an order than companies in the normal lane.
The leads came in a special mailbox, but officials only recorded the sources half of the time, although many came from ministerial offices after MPs gave clues about companies in their constituencies.
The NAO highlighted a £ 840,000 contract with Public First for focus groups and communications.
Dominic Cummings was dragged into the debacle after the spending watchdog said officials failed to consider potential conflicts of interest
The policy and research firm is owned by James Frayne and his wife Rachel Wolf, who both previously worked for Michael Gove, Secretary of the Cabinet Office. Miss Wolf co-wrote Boris Johnson's 2019 manifesto.
The NAO said there was no evidence that Mr. Gove was involved in the award, but "we did not find any documentation to consider any conflict of interest".
Mr Cummings' association with Mr Frayne dates back to at least 2000 when they worked together on a campaign against Britain's entry into the euro. You were also a co-founder of a right-wing think tank.
Another potential conflict of interest was discussed in the report with regard to Lord Agnew, a Minister in the Treasury and Cabinet Office.
He owned an interest in Faculty, an artificial intelligence company that had three coronavirus contracts worth £ 3 million for data analysis.
The faculty is also associated with Mr. Cummings. It worked with him on the 2016 election campaign, and The Guardian reported that he donated £ 260,000 to the company from his company Dynamic Maps in 2018 and 2019.
A faculty spokesman said: “The NAO found no evidence that Lord Agnew was involved in these procurements, which were made under delegated authority in various departments, none of which was his own.
The National Audit Office said there was no evidence that Mr. Gove was involved in the award
It also turned out that the minister had disclosed his interests. Lord Agnew maintains ownership of his shares by blind trust. & # 39;
The report made no mention of Mr. Cummings' connection with Public First or the Faculty. Public First's Mr Frayne said, "We have a pay-as-you-go deal that we can terminate at any time if they are not satisfied with our work."
A government source said Mr. Gove was not involved in the Public First contract.
Cabinet Minister Julia Lopez said: "We have robust processes in place to ensure critical equipment gets to where it is needed as quickly as possible while ensuring value for money for the taxpayer . "
Mr. Cummings did not respond to a request for comment.
Dominic Cummings has ties to two of the four companies singled out in the damn National Audit Office report.
The former chief advisor to the 48-year-old Prime Minister has ties to the artificial intelligence company, faculty and research firm Public First, which have signed contracts valued at more than £ 3.8 million.
Mr Cummings was omitted from the public watchdog's devastating report that found bidders with "VIP access" to ministers ten times more likely to win Covid contracts than those who did not.
Mr Cummings worked with the faculty in 2016, which won three contracts worth £ 3 million for data analysis.
Dominic Cummings has ties to the artificial intelligence company, faculty, and research firm Public First
He also has longstanding ties with Public First, led by James Frayne and his wife Rachel Wolf, who co-wrote the Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto.
His association with Mr Frayne dates back to at least 2000 when they were working on a campaign against Britain's accession to the euro.
The NAO report criticized the fact that the £ 840,000 Public First contract was retrospectively awarded. The report states that Public First billed a total of £ 550,000 for the works covered by the contract.
It was found that the company's founders also worked for the Cabinet Minister Michael Gove. The report said there was no evidence that Mr Gove was involved in the award of the contract, but added that "no documents were found to address conflicts of interest".
There is no evidence that Mr Cummings played a role in securing the contracts.
Another company audited in the report is Ayanda Capital, which has won a £ 253 million contract to supply PSA.
The deal was brokered by Andrew Mills, who was one of 12 advisors to the Board of Trade, chaired by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss. Mr. Mills is also a Senior Board Adviser to Ayanda Capital.
Approximately 50 million pound sterling worth of masks supplied by the company were of the wrong specification and cannot be used.
Ayanda said last night, "Suggestions that the masks are unsuitable for the purpose or unsafe for NHS frontline workers are simply wrong and we are being classified as defamatory."
In addition to the three companies identified in the NAO report, the mail can display 12 other companies included in the graphic above. This includes Meller Designs, which has signed PPE contracts worth £ 163 million. It is operated by Tory donor David Meller.
P14 Medical Limited won three orders valued at £ 272 million to supply PPE. Its director is former Tory Councilor Steve Dechan.
(tagsToTranslate) Dailymail (t) Nachrichten (t) Coronavirus (t) Christmas (t) Coronavirus Lockdowns
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