Lost at C
BARELY has the “Plan B” Covid clampdown been wheeled out in England before the doom-mongers who advise the Government raise the ominous prospect of Plan C, with even tougher restrictions.
Their panic seems to centre on the projection of a cumulative 1million UK Omicron cases by the end of this month, assuming the Covid variant’s spread keeps doubling every two to three days.
But with many key questions unanswered, not least the impact on hospitalisations, let us stick to what we DO know.
First, daily recorded deaths of all Covid variants in South Africa, where Omicron has been on the loose for longer, have so far remained broadly static in the low double figures.
No Omicron deaths anywhere have yet been confirmed, with signs severe illness is rarer than other variants.
We also know that our economy’s precarious state cannot be ignored, with growth falling to almost non-existent levels even before the extra headwinds Plan B’s restrictions will bring.
Indeed, the main new fact on Omicron to emerge yesterday was positive, with booster jabs found to give up to 75 per cent protection from mild illness, likely more against severe illness and death.
That’s nearly double the protection of two vaccine doses, so the lesson is clear.
If we all get boosted as soon as we are able, and exercise fair caution, we can tell the Plan C doom-mongers to get knotted.
Fatal error
IT now seems all but certain that Geronimo the alpaca did not have bovine tuberculosis when he was put down.
The latest test results mean that images of the pet being dragged kicking and screaming to his death in August will once again haunt George Eustice, the Environment Secretary who refused the nation’s pleas for a stay of execution.
It is hollow vindication for Geronimo’s owner Helen Macdonald, who had waged a four-year legal battle to save him and who still feels “traumatic grief”.
Bovine TB is a serious threat to our livestock, but it was argued the tests Geronimo failed in 2017 could be flawed.
Mr Eustice and his Defra officials decided that they knew better.
But with Miss Macdonald reportedly considering legal action against ministers, Geronimo may yet have his revenge.
Aster la vista
IF you are reading this after 1.51pm then congratulations!
It probably means the Eiffel Tower-sized Nereus asteroid has safely whizzed past Earth, rather than smashing into us.
Of course, if the space rock HAS plunged humanity into a cataclysm and you’re still reading this paper, who could blame you, especially with our brilliant Christmas TV mag today?
Astronomical catastrophe or not, things always look brighter in Trending In The News.
