Oliver Dowden attempts to end confusion over festive do advice

Oliver Dowden attempts to end confusion over festive do advice
Oliver Dowden attempts to end confusion over festive do advice

Tory Party chairman Oliver Dowden today insisted people should 'keep calm and carry on' with their Christmas plans and parties despite Omicron - but Britain's pubs, restaurants and clubs are already set to lose 'billions' because 'the damage is already done'.

Mr Dowden insisted the Government had been clear in its guidelines - despite a plethora of ministers offering contradictory and confusing advice -  and said: 'There's a Conservative Party Christmas party still planned'. 

He also said that providing Britons abide by mask rules on public transport and in shops, they can kiss anyone they like under the mistletoe.

Boris Johnson has urged businesses not to cancel office parties and proceed with caution when his ministers either told people to cancel, wear masks, take tests and not snog strangers - none of which are in the Government guidelines.

Mr Dowden told Sky News: 'The message to people, I think, is fairly straightforward - which is keep calm, carry on with your Christmas plans. We've put the necessary restrictions in place, but beyond that keep calm and carry on.

'I understand that people have concerns around the new variant. That's why the Government has taken the sort of measures that we've already outlined ... we think those are sufficient at this stage and, beyond that, people should continue with their plans as intended.'

Amid confusion about what to do, many of Britain's biggest employers including the NHS, banks and tech firms have axed festive bashes completely or taken them online. 

Tim Rumney, the chief executive of hotel group Best Western GB, said: 'We have had a week of mixed messages about whether people should socialise or cancel parties or not and small, independent businesses like our hotels are on the frontline feeling the effects of that indecision. 

'My fear is the damage is already done, and this festive period will need to be written off like last Christmas, which will be devastating for many small businesses who were hoping for a strong end to 2021, after the last two years of Covid interrupted trading.' 

It came as a Christmas party at the Louise seafood restaurant in Oslo saw up to 60 people contract Omicron in what is likely to be the world's biggest outbreak of the new strain so far. Norwegian epidemiologists have ruled out the possibility the infections are Delta variant cases and said there was a 'high probability' it was Omicron because at least one of the Scatec employees had recently returned from the renewable energy company's South African office in Cape Town.

Today Tine Ravlo, assistant district physician in Frogner district, said none of the victims are seriously ill - and have 'mild' symptoms such as a runny nose, cough and sore throat. It will raise hopes Omicron is not more dangerous than Delta.

Britons are strongly opposed to the government ramping up Covid restrictions in response to the Omicron variant, with more than two thirds of the public against the closure of pubs and restaurants

Britons are strongly opposed to the government ramping up Covid restrictions in response to the Omicron variant, with more than two thirds of the public against the closure of pubs and restaurants

Mr Dowden encouraged people to get their booster jabs if they are concerned about the virus.

He said: 'The one thing that everyone can do if they are worried is to make sure that they take that booster, that they make sure that they top up their immunity.

'Provided people take the booster when they get the call, provided they abide by the existing rules, as updated in light of the new variant, I think people can continue with their Christmas plans and I'd encourage people to do so.'

Britons are strongly opposed to the government ramping up Covid restrictions in response to the Omicron variant, with more than two thirds of the public against the closure of pubs and restaurants. 

Festive fun on hold across the country

Amid conflicting advice, employers have lost confidence and there is now a flood of Christmas party cancellations.

The NHS

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

All staff parties have been postponed until next year.

Newham Clinical Commissioning Group

GP practices have called off their celebrations.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Small department parties can go ahead but some, including paediatrics, have cancelled.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust

No trust-wide guidance but some providers reporting cancelled parties.

Hampshire GP practices

No Trust guidance but some surgeries are cancelling.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Scaled back. No large parties – but individual teams can decide whether to go ahead.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

No change. Parties on departmental basis, as normal.

Public sector

The BBC

Many departments, including news, have cancelled office parties, claim staff.

The Government's departments

Scaled back. There will be no department-wide parties and it is down to individual teams to decide how to celebrate.

The Metropolitan Police

Scaled back. There are no plans for an office-wide Christmas party this year. Down to individual departments.

National Highways

Scaled back. No party was planned but smaller gatherings are expected, with lateral flow tests encouraged.

Tech sector

Google

Cancelled. All gatherings have been moved to next year and limited to 15 people.

Microsoft

Cancelled and replaced with a 'virtual party'

Universities and charities

University College London

All parties have been cancelled or postponed.

Age UK

Face-to-face Christmas parties have been called off.

Banks

Lloyds

Cancelled. Bosses held their Christmas party in the summer instead in anticipation of winter chaos.

HSBC

Scaled back. Staff have not been asked to cancel their team Christmas parties but some have opted for virtual events instead.

NatWest

Additional measures. Individual teams organising parties as usual with lateral flow tests recommended.

Finance and insurance

Deloitte

Scaled back. Smaller teams can hold parties.

EY

Scaled back. Smaller group celebrations and face coverings must be worn.

PwC

Scaled back. Plans for smaller parties subject to consent of department heads.

KPMG

Scaled back. Parties will be on a group by group basis.

Law firms

Slaughter and May

Scaled back. Smaller team parties only, which was decided before Omicron.

Ashurst

Scaled back. Lateral flow tests before smaller, team-based parties. 

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There has been 48 hours of mixed messaging from his ministers which has led to a barrage of called-off festive celebrations.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Britons to 'snog who they wish' but other members of the cabinet offered contradictory advice. 

Despite the confusion, a YouGov survey has found that 64 per cent Britons are against any stay-at-home orders, while 61 per cent said they don't want draconian restrictions on welcoming guests into their homes.

But the survey of 1,402 adults across England, carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday after a mask mandate was reintroduced in shops and on public transport, found support for some further steps to stop the spread of infection.

More people backed closing nightclubs rather than keeping them open (55 per cent to 34 per cent), while a very slim majority (46 to 45 per cent) said large sports and entertainment events should not go ahead.

And people seemed to be happy to keep their distance from each other, with 60 per cent supporting remaining two metres apart from those outside their household and 69 per cent in favour of social distancing in pubs and restaurants.

YouGov said: 'The reintroduction of tougher Covid 19 restrictions is mostly unpopular among the English public, although support has increased slightly since July.

'Since Tuesday, England has been placed under tighter restrictions in an attempt to control the spread of the highly infectious new Omicron variant of the virus. For now, however, England is unwilling to return to full lockdown rules.'

The findings come after 24 hours of confusing and contradictory statements from Westminster. 

Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey told ITV's Peston show 'I don't think there should be much snogging under the mistletoe' as the nation battled the new variant.

But Mr Javid then contradicted her, saying: 'People can snog who they wish. 

'I'll certainly be kissing my wife under the mistletoe, it's a Javid family tradition and it's got nothing to do with the Government who you kiss.'

Mr Johnson received his booster shot live on TV before telling Sky News there was no reason for Britons to change their Christmas plans.

'People should follow the guidance we've set out,' he said. 'They shouldn't be cancelling things, there is no need for that at all and it isn't what we're saying. The most important thing you can do in all circumstances is to have your booster when it becomes available.'

Earlier Mr Johnson's business minister plunged Christmas party plans for millions of Britons into further chaos after declaring it would be 'sensible' to limit them to 'four or five staff' or axe them completely

George Freeman, the Under Secretary of State for Science, also revealed that he was cancelling his own department's bash, changing it to drinks on Zoom instead amid concerns over the new Omicron variant, admitting: 'It won't be the best party in the world'.

But hours later No 10 urged firms not to cancel Christmas parties and said people are free to kiss who they like after another minister advised against 'snogging under the mistletoe' over the holiday period. 

Mr Johnson's latest intervention on Sky News will be seen as an attempt to bring clarity to his government's position, after hospitality bosses complained muddled and confusing advice from ministers had led to a 'catastrophic' 48 hours for the industry.

But there is growing uncertainty about the Omicron variant, which is fuelling a meteoric rise in cases in South Africa. Nationally, cases there soared to 11,535 today marking a 370 per cent rise in a week, and up a third on around 8,500 yesterday. 

It has become the dominant strain in the country in just a week since it was officially discovered, making up 75 per cent of sequenced samples now after outpacing Delta at a ferocious pace. 

But public health experts in South Africa and the World Health Organization have insisted that cases are only mild and that vaccines should still be highly effective against the strain, despite a distinct lack of data. 

At a WHO press conference today, officials said that reports on the ground suggest the variant is much better at re-infecting people than Delta, which is why it's spreading so fast in Guateng province where up to 80 per cent have natural immunity. By contrast, only a quarter of South Africans are vaccinated against Covid. 

Yet despite the optimism, hospital admissions already appear to be on the rise in South African with today's 274 up 180 per cent on last Thursday, even though they are rising from a low base. 

It came as a Christmas party at the Louise seafood restaurant in Oslo saw up to 60 people contract Omicron in what is likely to be the world's biggest outbreak of the new strain so far. 

Norwegian epidemiologists have ruled out the possibility the infections are Delta variant cases and said there was a 'high probability' it was Omicron because at least one of the Scatec employees had recently returned from the renewable energy company's South African office in Cape Town.

And in another twist, Scatec has insisted only vaccinated employees were allowed to attend the Christmas party last Friday and they needed a negative test result beforehand.  

One of the company's super-spreaders was also drinking in an Irish bar in the city the following night, raising fears more could be infected.

More than 71 per cent of Norway's population are fully vaccinated, higher than the 69 per cent of Brits and 59 per cent of Americans who have had both jabs.

It is still not known if Omicron is faster spreading or more deadly than the dominant Delta strain with scientists insisting they need three weeks to study the data, leaving bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants and millions of Britons in limbo.

There is growing uncertainty about the Omicron variant, which is fuelling a meteoric rise in cases in South Africa. Nationally, cases there soared to 11,535 today marking a 370 per cent rise in a week, and up a third on around 8,500 yesterday

There is growing uncertainty about the Omicron variant, which is fuelling a meteoric rise in cases in South Africa. Nationally, cases there soared to 11,535 today marking a 370 per cent rise in a week, and up a third on around 8,500 yesterday

The Christmas tree from Norway is illuminated in Trafalgar Square amid uncertainty over Christmas with fears of Covid restrictions

The Christmas tree from Norway is illuminated in Trafalgar Square amid uncertainty over Christmas with fears of Covid restrictions

And for the businesses shelling out millions on Christmas parties for staff, they are unlikely to get a full  refund unless Boris Johnson changes the formal guidance.

Last year the Government introduced schemes including business grants and furlough for businesses forced to close during the pandemic. These programmes remained in place for the subsequent 18 months and proved to be enormously costly but proved a lifeline for businesses.

The hospitality industry erupted with fury at the move, with some branding it a lockdown by stealth and bosses warning a wave of cancellations that have hit them could cost the sector 'billions'.

Urging people not to call off festive celebrations, UK Hospitality chief Kate Nicholls told MailOnline: 'Individual businesses will have their own booking policies in place and a larger number than usual have been asking for deposits for larger group bookings this year.

'However, others won't have any contingencies in place and all will incur significant costs for last-minute cancellations.

'It should be remembered that operators have invested heavily to ensure the safety of staff and customers, focusing on better ventilation, hygiene and sanitation, measures which SAGE recommends are the most effective ways to control infection and as a result hospitality venues are safer places in which to socialise than at home.'

George Freeman is the fifth minister to give different advice about festive parties with half of businesses cancelling this year costing UK hospitality 'billions'. His boss Boris Johnson has insisted that there is no need to cancel this year and 'people should live their lives' because he is 'confident this Christmas will be better than the last'.

Plunging party plans into further chaos this morning, Mr Freeman said larger companies might consider cancelling their staff Christmas parties. He said: 'It slightly depends on the nature of the business. For many small businesses, four or five staff, who are working together every day anyway, gathering to have a drink isn't a big step up in risk. 

To party or not to party this Christmas? What Britain's biggest employers plan to do about this year's staff festive bash

To party or not to party this Christmas? What Britain's biggest employers plan to do about this year's staff festive bash

When will they make their minds up? Ministers and their muddled advice on Christmas parties

Prime Minister Boris Johnson: Don't cancel your Christmas party

Today

'People should follow the guidance we've set out. They shouldn't be cancelling things, there is no need for that at all and it isn't what we're saying. 

'The most important thing you can do in all circumstances is to have your booster when it becomes available.'    

Tuesday 

'People should live their lives. We are not changing the guidance on how you should basically be living your life… Providing people continue to be cautious and sensible, we think that's the right approach.

'We continue to be in a strong position largely thanks to the speed of the vaccine rollout, another booster rollout and I think I'm going to stick with the formula I've used before, which is I'm pretty confident to absolutely confident this Christmas will be considerably better than last Christmas.' 

Health Minister Gillian Keegan: Continue with your festive plans

'Continue with your Christmas plans, continue with your nativity plays and your Christmas parties

'Of course Christmas is on track, and actually what everybody wants for Christmas is if you haven't had your first jab, come and get it, if you haven't had your second jab, come and get it, and if you haven't had your booster, come and get it when you're asked.' 

Health Secretary Sajid Javid: Take a test, wear a mask (but then take it off and snog who you like)

'If you are invited to a Christmas party, there's quite a few people there, maybe you want to take an LFT (lateral flow test) test before you go. Go to the party, but just be cautious.'

Asked if he would wear a mask if he was at a party, Mr Javid said: 'It depends if I am walking around or sitting down. It depends if I'm eating. People just need to make a decision based on the guidance.

Later he said: 'People can snog who they wish. I'll certainly be kissing my wife under the mistletoe, it's a Javid family tradition and it's got nothing to do with the Government who you kiss.'

Therese Coffey: No snogging under the mistletoe

'For what it's worth, I don't think there should be much snogging under the mistletoe.

'(You) don't need to do things like that. But I think we should all be trying to enjoy the Christmas ahead of us and that's why we're working so hard to get the deployment of as many vaccines as possible.' 

'Christmas we should continue to plan for and enjoy.' But she said snogging should be avoided with 'people you don't already know'. 

George Freeman: Don't invite more than five people 

Individual businesses, in the end, have to make judgments on what is appropriate internally.

'It slightly depends on the nature of the business. For many small businesses, four or five staff, who are working together every day anyway, gathering to have a drink isn't a big step up in risk.

'But some companies might normally bring hundreds of people in from around the world to a big party, and they may decide, this year, is that sensible given the pandemic and given where we are?

'In the end, I think business people know how to make those decisions. The Government has set out clear guidance.' 

Dr Jenny Harries

UK Health Security Agency head Dr Jenny Harries said on Tuesday that people should not socialise unnecessarily. Boris Johnson contradicted her by saying that Christmas parties should go ahead  

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A Christmas party in Norway at the exclusive Louise Restaurant & Bar in Oslo has left between 50 and 60 people infected with Covid-19, suspected to be the new super-mutant Omicron variant

A Christmas party in Norway at the exclusive Louise Restaurant & Bar in Oslo has left between 50 and 60 people infected with Covid-19, suspected to be the new super-mutant Omicron variant

Norway has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. The Oslo outbreak will raise fears Omicron can dodge vaccines

Norway has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. The Oslo outbreak will raise fears Omicron can dodge vaccines

The number of daily cases per million people is rising sharply in Norway - but it is still below the UK's level

The number of daily cases per million people is rising sharply in Norway - but it is still below the UK's level

Ministers and Boris Johnson's top scientists have all given different advice about whether to hold a Christmas party

Just how heavily Omicron has mutated from both the original Covid virus and other variants such as Delta has been laid bare by new images

Just how heavily Omicron has mutated from both the original Covid virus and other variants such as Delta has been laid bare by new images

Only a handful of people gathered for the illumination of the Norwegian Christmas tree, an annual tradition which usually draws huge crowds of people watching the switching on of the gift from Norway to thank Britain for their help during WWII

Only a handful of people gathered for the illumination of the Norwegian Christmas tree, an annual tradition which usually draws huge crowds of people watching the switching on of the gift from Norway to thank Britain for their help during WWII

The Christmas tree is an annual gift from the city of Oslo to the people of Britain as a token of thanks for British support during their years of occupation in World War II and usually draws a large crowd when it is turned on in Trafalgar Square each year

The Christmas tree is an annual gift from the city of Oslo to the people of Britain as a token of thanks for British support during their years of occupation in World War II and usually draws a large crowd when it is turned on in Trafalgar Square each year

Pictured: The Mayor of Oslo Marianne Borgen speaks to London Mayor Sadiq Khan during the annual Norwegian Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square, in London, earlier today which drew only small crowds for the annual ceremony

Pictured: The Mayor of Oslo Marianne Borgen speaks to London Mayor Sadiq Khan during the annual Norwegian Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square, in London, earlier today which drew only small crowds for the annual ceremony

Omicron becomes dominant in South Africa in just one WEEK: Health chief reveals 75% of cases are now super-mutant variant

The super-mutant Omicron variant has outpaced Delta to become the dominant strain in South Africa in just a week, it was revealed today after infections soared sixfold in the days after its discovery.

A public health official based in Johannesburg revealed that the highly evolved virus was now behind 75 per cent of cases nationally just eight days after South Africa first raised the alarm about the strain on November 24.

Professor Anne von Gottberg, a clinical microbiologist at South Africa's national health agency, told an emergency World Health Organization conference today it 'does look like there is a predominance of Omicron throughout the country'.

Five of the country's nine provinces have confirmed Omicron cases and officials expect its prevalence to be high in the remaining four areas where positive samples have not yet been sequenced.

There have only been 183 confirmed cases of the strain because only a handful of positive samples are analysed for variants. South Africa is currently recording 8,561 cases per day, which have soared sixfold (571 per cent) in a week from 1,275.

Meanwhile, hospitalisations have more than doubled in the last two weeks, from an average of 86 per day to 184. Despite reports that the strain causes mild illness, the virus was initially circulating among young people — who are not usually hospitalised with the virus.

Professor von Gottberg said scientists are worried about the number of Omicron cases that are being spotted among people who have previously had Covid, compared to the reinfection rate during the Beta and Delta-fuelled waves.

But she said the virus may be no more transmissible than Delta, the illness it causes is thought to be 'less severe' and vaccines should protect against illness.

 

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'But some companies might normally bring hundreds of people in from around the world to a big party, and they may decide, this year, is that sensible given the pandemic and given where we are? In the end, I think business people know how to make those decisions'.

He added: 'I haven't been kissed under the mistletoe for years. I can tell you that my parliamentary team and I normally have a Christmas party. We've decided this year that it is probably sensible to do it by Zoom and wait for the spring. It won't be the best party in the world'. 

Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said the advice from UK Health Security Agency head Dr Jenny Harries on Tuesday that people should not socialise unnecessarily – which kicked off the row – had been 'catastrophic for the industry'.  

He told Sky News: 'In the last 48 hours it's been catastrophic for the industry. We've seen office parties cancelled, flights are cancelling, it's been a huge domino effect. This isn't just restaurants, this is the whole ecology around it - it's the supply chain, it's the taxis, it's hotel rooms, it's everything that goes with it. 

'December is a time when people can have a good time - they can take up to 25 per cent of their annual turnover in December. Sadly, at the eleventh hour, it's been snatched away from them.' 

He also said this week: 'If the hospitality sector is not supported and closes in December, it will be the final nail in the coffin for many of our beloved venues.' 

Meanwhile, there were underwhelming crowds in Trafalgar Square for the switching on of the Christmas Tree lights.

The annual tradition is usually a popular event when the  Norwegian Christmas tree is illuminated during a special lighting ceremony in London. 

The Christmas tree is an annual gift from the city of Oslo to the people of Britain as a token of thanks for British support during their years of occupation in World War II.

But there were only a handful of families gathered for the event this year as mixed messages over Covid restrictions continue to be echoed by ministers. 

It comes as major companies including NatWest, Aviva and Deutsche Bank said all staff would have to take a lateral flow test before attending their Christmas parties. The trio and several other big firms also said events would be limited to teams rather than full-staff.

Legal & General decided in October that Christmas celebrations should be kept small and team-based; Microsoft is holding a large 'virtual' party'; while Lloyd's decided to hold its annual staff bash in the summer. 

The row over Christmas parties and the new Covid-19 regulations, enshrined in law until March, came as: 

Germany will lock down its unvaccinated citizens while parliament debates making jabs mandatory, Angela Merkel said as she threw her weight behind the move; The super-mutant Omicron variant has outpaced Delta to become the dominant strain in South Africa in just a week, it was revealed today after infections soared sixfold in the days after its discovery;  British ministers bought 114million more doses of coronavirus vaccines that can be tweaked to protect against new variants with fourth or even fifth boosters planned until 2023;     No 10 insists its staff 'followed the guidance' amid reports that a Christmas party contravening social distancing rules was held there last December; Businesses allow staff to work from home and bring back mask wearing and temperature checks in the office;  Shamed Matt Hancock apologises again in first TV interview since losing his job and wife over office affair and declares: 'I've blown up every part of my life';
Shocking graphic of Omicron's 32 spike mutations reveals why scientists are so worried about the most evolved Covid strain ever 

Just how heavily Omicron has mutated from both the original Covid virus and other variants such as Delta has been laid bare by new images

Just how heavily Omicron has mutated from both the original Covid virus and other variants such as Delta has been laid bare by new images

This is the image that has prompted fear among scientists, prompted ministers to turbocharge the UK's booster vaccine rollout and seen the return of mask mandates in England.

It details the new super-mutant Omicron variant's 32 spike protein mutations which experts fear will make it the most infectious and vaccine-resistant strain yet.

The graphic, released by the country's top variant monitoring team, also lays bare how it is far more evolved than even the world-dominant Delta strain, with nearly five times as many alterations on the spike.   

As of yesterday, just 32 cases of Omicron have been detected in the UK but hundreds are expected to emerge in the coming days and there are signs it is spreading domestically already. 

The new strain shares mutations with all of the main 'variants of concern' — including Alpha, Beta and Delta — but has dozens more which all point to heightened transmissibility and

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