Boris Johnson has rejected the idea that people should cancel Christmas parties and other festive events, after one of the UK’s most senior health officials said people should cut down on socialising.
The prime minister said there was no need to strengthen the guidance on social contact, despite the cautionary message from the head of the UK Health Security Agency, Jenny Harries. After visiting a vaccination centre, Johnson said there needed to be a “surge” in people getting booster shots and that the army would be brought in to provide logistical support, but there would be no further change in advice “about how people should be living their lives”.
Harries had earlier urged people to reduce their social contact, even if only by a little, as fears grow that existing vaccines will prove less effective against the Omicron variant.
“Of course our behaviours in winter – and particularly around Christmas – we tend to socialise more, so I think all of those will need to be taken into account,” the former deputy chief medical officer for England told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “So I think being careful, not socialising when we don’t particularly need to and particularly going and getting those booster jabs.”
Pressed about whether people should cancel their Christmas parties, No 10 said Harries “gives advice to the government, she is not the government”.
Senior politicians are pressing ahead with Christmas drinks parties, and Johnson will continue to attend and hold receptions.
Will BJ’s decision come back to haunt him with a repeat of the post-Xmas surge …
Last year we had restrictions in place, with no one able to spend Christmas with family. However, Brain dead Boris had Nimco Ali over to stay at Number 10.
So maybe the decison not to lockdown this Christmas is due to his own hypocrisy last Christmas & the potential problems if he does try to lock down again.
