Haringey coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
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COVID-19 Omicron measures news update
Booster opens up to people aged 18+
People aged 18 or over will be able to pre-book a booster dose appointment 2 months after their second dose. You can get your booster dose 3 months after your second dose.
NHS Covid Pass
MPS have approved government plans to introduce NHS COVID passes meaning that you’ll need to show a NHS COVID Pass at nightclubs, some venues and large events to show you’re fully vaccinated, have had a negative test result in the last 48 hours, or you have an exemption.
Compulsory face masks and mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff were also passed into law.
International travel red list ends
The UK has removed all 11 countries from England’s coronavirus travel “red list” of travel restrictions. Hotel quarantine for travellers arriving in England from the red list countries ended at 4am this morning.
NHS ends 15-minute wait after Pfizer jab
The 15-minute wait for patients after they have received a Pfizer COVID-19 jab has been scrapped by NHS England so more booster jabs can be administered. It is estimated that removing the additional wait time will increase NHS capacity by almost a quarter.
Government sets new booster target in midst of warnings of Omicron wave
In a televised address to the Nation on Sunday evening, the Prime Minister announced that booster jabs will be offered to everyone over 18 in England from this week. Boris Johnson declared an “Omicron emergency” and said the target to vaccinate all adults by the end of January will be brought forward by a month. The announcement came after the UK’s COVID-19 alert level was raised to four due to the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Level four means a high or rising level of transmission - the last time the UK was at this level was in May.
The new booster target means people aged 18 and over in England will be able to get their third jabs from this week - as long as it has been three months since their second dose.
People aged 30 and over can already book an appointment in advance using the online service from two months after their second dose and over-18s in this position will be able to book from Wednesday.
Some walk-in appointments will be available from Monday for eligible over-18s, depending on location.
But Mr Johnson said that to reach the new jab target, certain other medical appointments would need to be postponed to the New Year. Some GPs are already allowed to postpone routine health checks to make space for vaccinations.
The prime minister also said:
• 42 teams from the military would be deployed across every region to help the effort
• extra vaccine sites and mobile units would be set up across England
• opening hours of clinics would be extended with more appointments
• thousands more volunteer vaccinators would be trained
• the UK government would also give extra support to speed up vaccinations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Speaking this morning (Monday 13 December), Health Secretary Sajid Javid reported that 10 people in England were currently in hospital with Omicron, with no deaths confirmed. However, 40% of all Covid cases in London are believed to now be the Omicron variant.
Early data suggests that getting a third booster dose gives an individual around 70% to 75% protection against symptomatic infection from Omicron.
Covid-19: Face masks required in more indoor venues in England
Face coverings are now compulsory in most indoor venues in England, under measures to tackle the Omicron variant. The new rules require people to wear masks in locations including theatres, cinemas, places of worship, museums and indoor sport stadiums.
Further changes start next week under the government's move to so-called Plan B Covid restrictions.
The new rules are being introduced to buy time against the Omicron variant amid a "credible risk" of a crisis in the NHS.
A further 249 cases of the Omicron variant were recorded in the UK on Thursday 9 December, taking the total number to be identified to 817. However, the true figure is believed to be much higher.
The Health Secretary, Mr Javid said the evidence was that Omicron was doubling every 2.5 or three days, which could mean a million infections by the end of the month as it takes over from the Delta variant in the UK.
Other nations of the UK - which are in charge of their own Covid rules - have already brought in stricter restrictions similar to Plan B.
The updated rules mean the public, and staff in public facing areas, will also now be required to wear face coverings in community centres, members clubs, libraries, bingo halls, snooker, halls, casinos, skating rinks and bowling alleys. However, they are not compulsory in hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants, nor in places where it is "not practical to wear them", like gyms.
Under the other changes for England:
- From Monday, people will be asked to work from home where possible
- From Wednesday, the NHS Covid Pass - proving vaccination status or a negative lateral flow test - will also be required for visitors to nightclubs, indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any event with more than 10,000 people
People will be exempt from showing a Covid passport when attending religious worship, weddings and funerals.
See also case numbers and rates, vaccines, testing, financial and other support for residents, business support, how you can help and COVID scams and misinformation.
Visit the GOV.UK and NHS websites for more help and support.
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