Patient care warning as Johnson sticks to plan B

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View online January 05, 2022   1 / Boris Johnson sticks to Plan B with hospitals put on 'war footing' as cases top 200,000 for first time Health leaders have warned of patient care coming under threat after Boris Johnson insisted England could "ride out" the Omicron wave of Covid-19 without new restrictions, despite admitting NHS hospitals will feel overwhelmed as infections surge in the coming days and weeks.   As daily confirmed infections topped 200,000 for the first time, the prime minister said the health service was being put on "war footing" ahead of what he acknowledged would be a very difficult period.   But he refused to tighten plan B curbs, insisting that high vaccination rates and public compliance with existing restrictions gave England a chance to "find a way to live with this virus" without shutting down social and economic life.   2 / Prince Andrew's attempt to dismiss sexual abuse case flounders under tough questioning from judge Judge Lewis Kaplan promises decision on whether case should proceed to trial will be imminent   3 / Nationality and Borders Bill would make people like me second-class citizens, warns peer Exclusive: Equalities campaigner Lord Woolley says controversial legislation has echoes of Windrush scandal   4 / Man charged after reports of anti-vaccine protest outside Sajid Javid's home Labour's shadow health secretary said the incident 'should be taken seriously' by the police.     5 / Canada launches probe over wild maskless influencer flight to Cancun that breached Covid laws Videos show people drinking, taking selfies and dancing without masks aboard Sunwing Airlines flight The Big Question     Should we be worried about the latest Covid variant discovered in France? Another day, another variant. While the reaction to the emergence of Omicron in southern Africa in November was immediate and laced with genuine fear and concern, the appearance of a further new strain in southeastern France has been met with a surprise shrug of the shoulders by many scientists.   On paper, B.1.640.2 looks problematic. Like Omicron, it has multiple mutations, 46 in total, many of which are located in its spike protein - the part of the virus responsible for gaining entry to human cells. But, in reality, this is a variant that predates Omicron yet has failed to take off globally in the same way.    Here's everything we know about it and our analysis of the threat it poses. Read the full story >   Watch / Rubbish piles up on Birmingham streets after Omicron hits collection teams NUMBER OF THE DAY 100,000 Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday afternoon that 100,000 critical workers would be given rapid tests for Covid every day. QUOTE OF THE DAY "This will further exacerbate the reality that millions of British people, many of African, Caribbean and Asian descent, are second class citizens." –  Lord Woolley, an equalities activist, on the controversial Nationality and Borders Bill  Other stories you might like Teenage refugee took his own life after move to adult housing, inquest hears Injured hiker saved by dog who lay on top of him for 13 hours North Korea fires suspected missile into sea after Kim Jong-un vows to boost military Articles available exclusively to subscribers May Bulman, The Independent: How charities are plugging gaping gaps in support for refugees in Calais If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters.     Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.