'I can't see New Years Eve going ahead.' DJ and music producer DJ Fat Tony says people should 'think about staying at home' and 'being in a safe place'. Latest on COVID19: KayBurley
Scientific advisers are understood to favour an immediate bolstering of COVID rules to prevent a potential surge in hospital admissions.Government sources say a change before Christmas is now"highly unlikely" but that a two-week"circuit-breaker" could begin before New Year - possibly on 28 December, according to The Times and the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, around 7,500 people are in hospital with COVID, much lower than January's peak, but there are fears that Omicron and the large rise in cases could lead to hospitals being swamped. But former prime minister Tony Blair has called for a more robust system to help the UK"stay ahead of the curve" and prepare for a possible fourth dose in the near future.
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