Letters: The omicron response is based on a flawed understanding of risk
Log-burner lifeline SIR – Phil Mobbs (Letters, December 1) outlines many of the pitfalls surrounding the push for the country to run on electric power, as illustrated…
Waiting for your booster? What you can do to protect yourself against Covid
So what can we do to protect ourselves against Covid, or improve our protection against severe illness? Lose weight If you’re overweight, it’s a good idea to…
Thursday evening UK news briefing: Duchess of Sussex wins legal challenge against Mail on Sunday
Following the judgement, the Duchess released a statement saying she is “reshaping” the tabloid media industry. In the victory statement, she used the final line to say…
How will the omicron variant and the red list affect my next holiday?
Amid concern over the omicron variant, 10 African countries have been added to the travel red list and a number of nations – including France, Portugal and…
Omicron Covid cases likely to be three times official figure, scientist warns
Omicron cases in England are likely to already be triple the official number, a science advisor to the government has warned. Analysis by Dr Nicholas Davies, from…
Too many people have a vested interest in this permanent Covid emergency
There is much that we have learnt about the character of modern Britain since Covid burst so disastrously on the scene almost two years ago. The only…
A psychotherapist’s guide to coping with Covid confusion
Humans need certainty, which is why the latest confusing messages around the arrival of the omicron variant are taking a toll on our mental health. Just as…
Help! I’m Team Boris, married to Team Jenny
“WHAT do you mean you’ve invited a few people round? Who are these people?” my spouse demands. “Friends. Our friends,” I reply. “How many?” he challenges. “Five,”…
Christmas may be at risk, but things could be worse – just look at the EU
I’m not one of those awful people who loves to go around saying: “I told you so”. Admittedly, the main reason for this is that I can’t,…
Forget omicron. We should call it the Xi variant
The naming of Covid variants, like the naming of cats, is a difficult matter. If you’re the World Health Organisation, anyway. Apparently keen to avoid giving offence,…
Wednesday evening UK news briefing: EU must consider mandatory Covid vaccination, says Ursula von der Leyen
On the flip side, Israel has said that early research suggests two to three doses of a Covid vaccine are effective against the new omicron variant. Nitzan…
Germans face lockdown under plans to treat only those with Covid booster jabs as fully vaccinated
“Because the protection of the vaccination decreases significantly over time, vaccination status will lose its recognition as complete protection after six months,” a written proposal from the…
The Ghosts of Variants Past bring comfort amid omicron gloom
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Which, as tradition dictates, heralds the advent of a new Covid variant that threatens to slam the door on…
GPs will get cash bonuses to help give booster rollout a shot in the arm
GPs will be given bonuses to take part in the booster rollout, health chiefs have announced, as they urge the public to volunteer to speed up the…
Germany to hold vote on mandatory Covid vaccinations
The death toll from Covid-19 in Greece, which has a population of around 10 million, exceeded 18,000 earlier this week. Across the country, occupancy of intensive care…
Carry on socialising, declares Boris Johnson, after Dr Jenny Harries causes fright before Christmas
Even before Dr Jenny Harries had finished touring television and radio studios on Tuesday morning, her appearances had stoked feverish speculation that Christmas could be cancelled. By…
Omicron fears risk new inflation spike, warns Bank rate-setter
Omicron is at risk of sparking a further rise in inflation if the new Covid variant keeps Britons indoors and closes factories overseas, a Bank of England…
There is a disconcerting sense of deja vu in the pre-Christmas air
Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, the Government has been at pains to insist that officials advise and politicians decide. Yet at the same time,…
Tuesday evening UK news briefing: Do not cancel Christmas parties, says Boris Johnson in wake of omicron variant
It comes as GPs have said they do not have time to administer booster vaccines on top of routine health checks. Dr Farah Jameel, recently elected chairman…
The economy might need an omicron bailout – but it must be more targeted
Next, fewer soft loans. The Treasury doled out billions in bounceback loans, and even more in rates rebates, and even invested in start-ups directly through the Future…
Omicron threat in Scotland may ‘diminish rather than increase’, says Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon has predicted the threat from the omicron variant may “diminish rather than increase” after disclosing all the cases discovered in Scotland are linked to one…
New Covid restrictions to last until March next year
Government accused of ‘tunnel vision’ approach to restrictions Tory MPs vented their fury about the potential for a repeat “pingdemic” over the festive period. Steve Brine, a…
New omicron rules must be temporary
The spectre of an emergency has again been raised to justify the reimposition of Covid restrictions by decree. From today, mask-wearing will be compulsory on public transport…
The omicron hysteria shows we are being led by experts who have no idea what living a normal life is
Last week, I was the guest speaker at a wonderful Probus lunch in Leicestershire. I told the assembled throng that the newspaper columnist is basically a cannibal…
Scotland’s nine omicron cases linked to single event, says Nicola Sturgeon
All nine cases of the omicron variant found so far in Scotland are linked to a “single private event”, Nicola Sturgeon has disclosed. The First Minister said…