Covid: Boris Johnson announces mandatory mask wearing & restrictions on travellers amid Omicron vari

[speak easy]

Source: Evening Standard

Covid: Boris Johnson announces mandatory mask wearing and restrictions on travellers amid Omicron variant

Boris Johnson has announced the reintroduction of masks in indoor spaces and some travel restrictions amid the arrival of the Omicron variant in the UK.

The prime minister said anyone arriving in the UK will be asked to take a PCR test for Covid-19 on the second day and they must self-isolate until they provide a negative result.

He also confirmed the reintroduction of face masks on public transport and shops, although they will not be required in hospitality venues.

Anyone in the UK who tests positive with a suspected case of the Omicron variant will also need to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of their vaccination status.


Read more: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/covid-boris-johnson-restrictions-masks-omicron-b968663.html

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PCR tests for travelers, but not on arrival? Masks in shops but not in bars? Typical half assed Johnson.

U.K. confirms two cases of Omicron coronavirus variant
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142832278

[Polybius]

1. Why can't we get mask mandates here?

Come on NYC, do it.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. We put our indoor mask mandate in place in August here in Philly

and it is still in effect!

Protect yourself and others from Delta: masks required indoors and at large outdoor gatherings in Philadelphia

August 11, 2021 James Garrow Board of Health, Department of Public Health
Last updated: August 13, 2021

Updated to reflect that the Philadelphia Board of Health approved a Regulation stating that certain essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and urgent cares will not be allowed to utilize the vaccinated only exception to the mask mandate, and must require masks for all staff and patrons.

Update – August 13, 2021: The Philadelphia Board of Health approved a Regulation stating that certain essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and urgent cares will not be allowed to utilize the vaccinated only exception to the mask mandate, and must require masks for all staff and patrons. This change is intended to support parents of children too young to be vaccinated.

Additionally, Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole clarified that the Health Department would not consider quick masked bathroom trips to be a violation of the mask mandate for those establishments taking advantage of the exception for vaccinated-only establishments.

Cities and states throughout the United States have been seeing more and more people be infected with COVID this summer. The dangerous Delta variant has been spreading, leading to the highest numbers of cases and hospitalizations of the entire pandemic in some places. This may be the most dangerous time in some parts of the United States.

While the situation isn’t quite as bad in Philadelphia, case counts are rising and that’s worrisome. The last time we saw the number of new cases going up, the Health Department took action to help slow the spread. Starting August 12, we’re doing that again.

Philadelphia’s mask mandate

While being fully vaccinated is the best way to protect against serious complications from COVID, masks have been proven to reduce the risk that unvaccinated and vaccinated people will be infected with COVID.

Philadelphia’s new mask mandate goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 12.

Indoors – businesses and institutions

In Philadelphia businesses and institutions that require vaccination for all employees and patrons are exempted from having a mask requirement. Masks will be required indoors at all Philadelphia businesses and institutions that do not require vaccination for employees and patrons. That means that for businesses and institutions that do not require everyone who enters to be vaccinated, everyone on site will be required to wear a mask.

Indoor dining

Indoor dining will be allowed to continue in restaurants. In restaurants that require proof of vaccination for everyone (staff and patrons), masks will not need to be worn. If vaccine is not required for everyone that enters a restaurant, masks are to be worn by all patrons and staff the entire time while not seated and eating or drinking.

Non-seated outdoor events

Masks will be required at all non-seated outdoor events in Philadelphia with more than 1,000 attendees.

We know that you’re probably tired of wearing a mask, but more and more people are getting infected with COVID and that’s dangerous – and even deadly.

We’ve said it before: wear your mask to help flatten the curve. It worked before, and it’ll work again.

And to keep us from getting into that situation again: get vaccinated as soon as possible.

https://www.phila.gov/2021-08-11-protect-yourself-and-others-from-delta-masks-required-indoors-and-at-large-outdoor-gatherings-in-philadelphia/

[BigmanPigman]

6. That's good news since I have been tracking their climb

recently, even with masks in place. Phila is the worst but Allegheny County is 2nd.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/pennsylvania/

[BumRushDaShow]

8. The data that Worldometers shows includes a 2-day total for Philly

because the city didn't report out on Thanksgiving, but reported 462 on Friday (for Wednesday and Thursday), and that figure is out of a city with a population of 1.6 million.

Our positivity is one of the, if not the lowest in the state. We were averaging around the mid-200s to around 300 cases per day right now, and overall throughout the pandemic, we have actually ended up averaging among the lowest per capital (per 100K) rates in the state - https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/03/pa-coronavirus-updates-cases-map-live-tracker

The city is currently running around a 3% positivity vs the state, which is running from 8% - 10% depending on what source you look at.

Link to tweet

TEXT

Philadelphia Public Health
@PHLPublicHealth
November 26, 2021 COVID-19 update:

462 new cases
175,513 Philadelphians diagnosed with COVID-19
4,072 Philadelphians have died from COVID-19
3.1% positivity rate

For more information: http://ow.ly/oD5Q50F9ZpR
Image
1:06 PM · Nov 26, 2021

If you go by the Worldometer data, then Pittsburgh with that +374 positives, having a population around 300,000 (2019), which is over 5 times smaller than Philly, means that if that rate happened here, it would be the equivalent of almost 1900 cases.

So the masks are working as intended. They are obviously not all N95 medical respirator types but over the past 3 months, some type of masking has made a huge difference. It was to the point where the Inquirer was scratching their heads noticing that the surrounding rim counties had a higher positivity and realized it was due to the masking (none of the suburban counties have mandatory indoors masking like here).

[BigmanPigman]

9. Good news from my home town.

I wonder if they'll have the Mummer's Parade this year.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. We had the Thanksgiving parade Thursday and Mummers are on for New Years!

https://whyy.org/articles/mummers-parade-will-be-back-on-broad-street-new-years-day/

vimeo.com/646645186


https://www.mrmummer.com/2022-mummers-parade-route/

[regnaD kciN]

4. Because "FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEDUMB!!!!!!"...

[Polybius]

10. Yeah but this is NYC, Democrats control everything without worry of offending Republicans

There's no excuse not to have one. As previously pointed out, other cities have them.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. A PCR result can take a couple days

With that edict, he might as well close the border considering how much back and forth travel there is to the UK.

[regnaD kciN]

5. Maybe the Scottish government should close the border with England as a "precaution"...

[BumRushDaShow]

7. That may yet happen!

Covid: Travel and mask rules tightened over Omicron variant

By Alex Kleiderman
BBC News

Published

54 minutes ago

(snip)

The reintroduction of masks in shops and public transport brings England back into line with the other UK nations.

Paddy Lillis from the shopworkers' union Usdaw accused ministers of "flip-flopping on basic and sensible Covid measures" and said the face covering rules should have been kept in place when restrictions were relaxed in July.

"Retail staff working with the public every day are deeply worried about catching Covid-19 and the arrival of the Omicron variant is a further concern," he said.

Carol Popplestone, chairwoman of the Royal College of Nursing, said face coverings were "something we have already called for and it should not have been a new variant that forced the prime minister to act".

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59445124

And the link in the above goes here -

What are the rules and guidance for face masks and coverings?

By Michelle Roberts
Health editor, BBC News online

Published

4 hours ago

(snip)

What are the current rules about masks across the UK?

In England, the legal requirement to wear a face covering ended on 19 July. Now it is set to return on transport and in shops

In Scotland, masks must still be worn in shops and on public transport - as well as pubs and restaurants when not seated. They are required in indoor public spaces in universities and remain compulsory for all school staff as well as secondary school pupils

In Wales, masks are still legally required on public transport and in all public indoor areas apart from pubs and restaurants

In Northern Ireland face coverings are no longer compulsory in places of worship, or for students in school classrooms, but they must be worn on public transport and in shops and hospitality venues

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-51205344

[róisín_dubh]

12. I'm flying in next week.

This is definitely a huge pain in the ass. But whatever, I’m going for a month, not a week. And a friend is out of town so I can quarantine at hers instead of a hotel.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. That's great that you have a known place to hang out for a few days

vs a hotel where you have more of a congregate setting with all kinds of possible exposure.