The UK economy was stuttering even before the imposition of new restrictions to control omicron. Growth in October came in at just 0.1 per cent, and GDP was still 0.5 per cent below its pre-Covid peak. The UK’s recovery has been among the poorest in the developed world. It is not exactly surprising. Not only did the UK maintain restrictions for longer than many of its competitors, the Government has pursued a strategy of tax rises that will have done nothing for consumer and business confidence.

Now firms are having to contend with a fresh wave of measures, which have affected the hospitality industry especially harshly. Some estimates have put the cost of Plan B at up to £800 million per week, although that could be an underestimate if people restrict their behaviour further.

Irresponsible rhetoric from political leaders will not help in that regard. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, hsd warned of a “tsunami” of omicron infections, while earlier this week Mark Drakeford, her Welsh counterpart, was reported as calling for a lockdown throughout the UK between Christmas and New Year. At present it seems as if the devolved governments are competing with each other and Westminster in how quickly they can impose new rules and how blood-curdling they can make their language.

Yet early analysis shows that a booster jab substantially increases protection against the new variant. Instead of fearmongering about the potential for case numbers to reach one million a day, political and health leaders should be promising to deliver one million boosters a day. Lives and livelihoods might depend on it.