Newspaper headlines: Omicron study hope, and Queen's moving tribute
By BBC News
Staff
- Published
The latest analysis on the Covid variant Omicron makes several front pages, including the i newspaper. Official data from the UK Health Security Agency now supports the claim that Omicron is milder than Delta - and people with Omicron are between 50% and 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital, the paper reports. The i says it means the threat of lockdown has eased, but that experts are still concerned at the high numbers of cases.
The number of daily cases in the UK hit another new record with 119,000 confirmed infections, the Financial Times reports. It also reports on the new findings on Omicron, quoting Health Secretary Sajid Javid as saying they were "promising" but that hospital admissions were increasing. Cabinet ministers are "deadlocked" on whether new Covid rules should be imposed after Christmas, the paper adds.
But government sources tell the Daily Telegraph that restrictions being brought in over New Year's Eve in England is "increasingly unlikely". One source told the paper that the "working assumption" among key Whitehall figures was that Boris Johnson would not order new curbs on socialising straight after Christmas - although it has not been ruled out. And a second source said a package of restrictions "doesn't look as likely as it was" after the latest data on Omicron.
The Guardian's top story focuses on a plea from doctors for people to keep their Christmas celebrations small. It points out that although the latest evidence shows Omicron is milder, it may not be enough to stop the NHS being overwhelmed. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned that Omicron would need to be about 90% less severe for hospital admissions not to reach previous peak levels, the paper adds.
The Times picks out something less positive from the study, highlighting that the vaccine's ability to stop people catching Omicron starts to wane 10 weeks after a booster dose. A senior government source tells the paper that they are monitoring vaccine protection rates and there will be flexibility to run another booster campaign when needed.
A preview of the Queen's Christmas message makes the front of the Daily Mail. It says the monarch will pay a moving tribute to her "beloved" Prince Philip in the broadcast, as she faces her first festive season without him. Buckingham Palace has also announced a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip in the spring, the paper adds.
The Daily Mirror calls the Queen's Christmas speech a "poignant salute" to the Duke of Edinburgh. She displays his photograph and wears a sentimental brooch in the broadcast, it points out. One Palace source called her message "particularly personal".
The Daily Express suggests the Queen's address - which it describes as "heartfelt" - will resonate with millions as it shares the pain of losing a loved one. The message will reflect grief and remembrance in a year when many have lost relatives and friends to Covid, the paper adds.
The Daily Star leads with a different story, reporting that scientists are calling on Nasa and other space agencies to do more to encourage the study of sex in space. The paper says experts feel research is needed to provide an insight into how to build healthy and intimate lives on spacecrafts and space stations.