Day: 8 December 2021

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about politicians’ efforts to control the virus — and other acts of hubris and folly – not just in Britain, but around the world.

Is this 'Plan B'? The new restrictions the Prime Minister announced at the Downing Street press conference sounded like a much-haggled-over compromise, with the details still being hammered out minutes before

More vaccinated people appear to be dying from Covid than are officially counted. This is also likely to lead to vaccine efficacy being overestimated.

Is that it? The original epicentre of the Omicron outbreak in South Africa, Gauteng province, has not seen reported daily infections increase for four days now.

The Institute of Economic Affairs has calculated that the Government's expected 'Plan B' restrictions could cost the British economy £4 billion per month.

It's being reported that the Government could announce the introduction of new restrictions including work-from-home guidance and vaccine passports as early as today.

Numerous studies have found that vaccine side effects are more common in those who've already had Covid. Such people (of whom there are many) not only face lower benefits from vaccination; they also face higher costs.

The British Medical Association and the charity Asthma U.K. have both said that asthma suffers can still wear face coverings and should not be exempt from following mask mandates.

For lockdown sceptics, the scandal surrounding the Downing Street Christmas party is manna from heaven because it makes it politically much more difficult for Boris to impose a Christmas lockdown.

The U.S. Surgeon General has said that school closures and a lack of socialisation as a result of lockdown policy have exacerbated the country's youth mental health crisis.