[ad_1]
Good morning. Gillian Keegan, the social care minister, has been giving interviews this morning and he or she has come near confirming stories that the Covid testing guidelines in England are going to be modified. Underneath the brand new system, folks with out signs who take a look at constructive on a lateral movement take a look at will not be requested to get a confirmatory PCR take a look at. This can cut back stress on the testing laboratories.
Requested about these stories, Keegan didn’t deny them, and hinted {that a} formal announcement is coming quickly. She advised BBC Breakfast:
As I say, I don’t have any official information on that however I do know that the groups are taking a look at testing and testing regimes.
We’ve launched so many lateral movement checks now and they’re very correct – they’re actually correct if persons are infectious, so I suppose they’re wanting on the regime on a regular basis when it comes to what is smart.
I don’t have any official information however the groups will announce it as soon as they’ve come to their conclusions.
Requested if the announcement would come at this time, she mentioned: “You could possibly anticipate some information – I don’t know when.”
Ministers are additionally reportedly planning to announce that individuals travelling to England will not have to take a pre-arrival take a look at.
Boris Johnson is chairing cupboard this morning, and each measures could also be mentioned there. At his press convention yesterday Johnson mentioned he would asking cupboard to agree that the federal government ought to keep on with plan B as a substitute of introducing additional restrictions. That’s not a lot of an ask, as a result of many of the cupboard, and the Conservative parliamentary social gathering, are strongly against tightening restrictions (which arguably can be too late now anyway).
However Johnson could face a harder reception within the Commons, the place the timing of at this time’s session means he’s taking PMQs at 3pm, and the place is is anticipated to ship a Covid assertion later.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Boris Johnson chairs cupboard.
2pm: Nicola Sturgeon, the primary minister, makes an announcement to the Scottish parliament on Covid.
2pm: The ONS publishes extra outcomes from its Covid an infection survey.
2.30pm: The Commons begins sitting once more after the Christmas recess, with Welsh questions.
3pm: Johnson faces Keir Starmer at PMQs.
3.30pm: Johnson is anticipated to make an announcement to MPs on Covid.
I’ll largely be specializing in UK Covid developments on this weblog at this time, however for wider coronavirus protection, do learn our world reside weblog.
I attempt to monitor the feedback beneath the road (BTL) however it’s unattainable to learn all of them. If in case you have a direct query, do embody “Andrew” in it someplace and I’m extra prone to discover it. I do attempt to reply questions, and if they’re of normal curiosity, I’ll submit the query and reply above the road (ATL), though I can’t promise to do that for everybody.
If you wish to appeal to my consideration rapidly, it’s in all probability higher to make use of Twitter. I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
Alternatively, you may e-mail me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com
[ad_2]
Source link