UK Covid news LIVE: Omicron surges in London as Boris Johnson faces Tory anger over Plan B restrictions

Covid-19 case rates in London, eastern England and the south-east have climbed to their highest level since the start of the year, new figures show.

A total of 648.5 new cases per 100,000 people were recorded in the south-east in the week to December 5, the highest rate for the region since the week to January 3.

Eastern England is at 552.4 cases per 100,000, the highest since the week to January 10, while London’s rate stands at 461.1, the highest since the week ending January 17.

The south-east has recorded the highest regional rate in England in the three most recent weeks, suggesting it is one of the main areas of the UK driving the current spike in cases.

The figures, from the Health Security Agency, show rates are rising in all regions along with most age groups.

Three women have been fined for attending gatherings in breach of coronavirus rules on the same day as the alleged Christmas party at Downing Street last year.

The Metropolitan Police has said officers will not investigate the alleged December 18 event, where staff and aides are said to have drunk together, eaten cheese and swapped secret Santa presents.

But prosecutions for breaches of Covid-19 regulations at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week included three women convicted over gatherings on the same day as the alleged festive bash, according to court records first reported by the Evening Standard.

Ami Goto, 23, from Marylebone, and Ebru Sen, 26, from Sittingbourne in Kent, were each fined £1,100 plus £210 costs for a gathering of two or more people in a flat in Holborn when London was under Tier 3 restrictions.

Emilia Petruta-Cristea, 24, was also fined £1,100 and ordered to pay £210 costs over a gathering at her home in Wanstead.

The cases were dealt with behind closed doors by a magistrate sitting under the single justice procedure.

Slovakia’s parliament has approved a plan to give people aged 60 and over up to 300 euros (£260) if they are vaccinated against Covid-19.

It is hoped the measure, drafted by Finance Minister Igor Matovic, will boost vaccinate uptake as Slovakia currently has one of the EU’s lowest vaccination rates.

So far, only 46.5 per cent of the nation’s 5.5 million people have been fully vaccinated.

In the 97-13 vote, parliament agreed that those who have received at least one primary dose of the vaccine by January 15 will receive 200 euros (£170) in cash, and those who have received a booster by that date will get 300 euros (£260).

The deal is a compromise because the current four-party ruling coalition in Slovakia was split over the issue.

The original plan had been to give people vouchers worth 500 euros (£430) that could be used in certain businesses, but it was opposed by the pro-business Freedom and Solidarity Party.

Slovakia has been facing a record surge of infections, making it one of the hardest hit nations in the world.

The country has been under lockdown since November 25, with citizens allowed to leave their homes only for specific reasons.

Currently, 3,419 people are in hospital in Slovakia, putting the health system under pressure.

If the number reaches 3,800, the government plans to impose more restrictions. Slovakia has reported over 757,000 coronavirus cases and 15,179 deaths in the pandemic.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the Plan B rules were necessary to “keep a lid on” the Omicron variant.

Asked if he had spoken out about the new restrictions, he said: “I think we have to do whatever is required.

“I am afraid with the wave of Omicron it appears to double in something like two to four days, which is the estimate, if you do the maths you discover there are already one million potential cases by Christmas.

“We know what happens if a very small proportion of those people have to go to hospital.

“Hospitals become full and we cannot take people in for emergency treatment or elective surgery, and so it is very important we keep a lid on that.

“So, yes, I was involved in the discussions about what we should do.”

He said Plan B restrictions have been known since July, adding: “Hopefully it will enable us to keep a lid on Omicron and make sure, in the meantime, everyone is getting boosted which is the thing, ultimately, we think will help.”

The Prime Minister was making a “broader point” when he said there needed to be a “national conversation” when asked about mandatory vaccinations, his official spokesman said.

Asked about the comments, he said: “I think he was making a broader point on the intention to keep developing further mitigations against coronavirus and any subsequent mutations, be that polyvalent vaccinations or further therapeutics, like the antivirals that we’re rolling out.”

He said: “We recognise how challenging this is, and disheartening for the public to see us having to introduce further restrictions, albeit at a relatively limited level.

“And so we will do everything possible to continue to be at the cutting edge of this work.

“I think he was clear that he didn’t want us to have a society and culture where we forced people to get vaccinated.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he was “upset, even infuriated” while watching the leaked Downing Street video of aides joking about a Christmas party because his own father was ill in hospital over the festive season.

He said: “This time last year my dad was lying in hospital and I couldn’t go and visit him.

“We didn’t know if he was going to make it.

“In fact he was in hospital for four months and he did make it, I’m pleased to report.

“So I was quite upset, even infuriated, watching the video the other night and it is absolutely right that it is properly and fully investigated.

“It should be said that the Prime Minister was not present at any of these alleged events and indeed we do not know what actually happened, and that is why he has asked the Cabinet Secretary to look into it and report back.”

Downing Street indicated Cabinet Secretary Simon Case made the decision to widen the scope of the investigation into Westminster parties during the 2020 lockdown.

“As the Prime Minister set out, it’s up to the Cabinet Secretary, as part of an independent process he is able to look into what he feels is relevant and appropriate,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

The review will look at a confirmed gathering at the Department for Education’s Whitehall headquarters on December 10 last year, and a reported leaving do for a No 10 aide – allegedly attended by Mr Johnson – on November 27, as well as the Downing Street party on December 18 which triggered the investigation.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the inclusion of proof of a negative test in Covid certification plans was a “proportionate way” of introducing the measure.

But it was confirmed this could be a lateral flow test taken at home, where the trust is put on it being reported correctly to the NHS.

There will be no fine for anyone faking a coronavirus test result but there would be fines for businesses who did not check Covid passes properly, starting at £1,000 – halved if paid within 14 days – rising to £2,000, £4,000, then £10,000 for subsequent offences.

There would also be penalties for people who provide fake Covid passes.

A text message or email from the NHS could also be used to prove Covid-19 status, as well as the official Covid pass.

The spokesman said that so far the public had been taking it “seriously and being responsible” with this method of testing.

Downing Street warned there could be “severe” consequences in terms of hospital admissions and deaths if the Plan B measures are not implemented.

Asked whether Tory rebels would be putting lives at risk by opposing the restrictions, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We think these are the right measures which will slow the growth. I’m not going to comment on decisions or motivations when MPs are voting, that wouldn’t be for me.

“But I simply would make the point that we do know, and the advice that we have received, is without action – given the incredibly fast growth rate of this variant – the consequences, in terms of hospitalisations and deaths, could be severe.

“Given we know that boosters do provide a level of protection – and potentially a significant level of protection – it is only responsible to provide that extra time to get more people protected.”

However, domestic measures brought in two weeks ago, including on isolation for those who had been in contact with anyone with the Omicron variant, will not be reviewed as Plan B measures for contacts to have daily tests would supersede those.

The new measures will be reviewed again on January 5 and have a sunset clause of January 25, and therefore after that point would need a new vote in Parliament.

However, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Boris Johnson would not hesitate to remove measures if the data showed the situation had improved.

He said: “The PM’s message to all MPs would be the very moment we get any information on characteristics that change that picture for the better then we would, of course, act and remove at the very earliest possible opportunity.”