Omicron in the UK: Boris Johnson against scientists
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson listens to a children's choir during a Christmas decoration lighting ceremony on Downing Street on December 1, 2021 in London.
© AP - Frank Augstein
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The Prime Minister asks the population not to cancel Christmas celebrations and nurseries in schools.
New restrictions were announced after the discovery of the Omicron variant on British soil.
But the recommendations of the government and scientists do not point in the same direction.
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With our correspondent in London,
Marie Boëda
It's a bit confusing.
Boris Johnson calls on the people to continue living.
A video of him at the Downing Street Christmas Market shows him without a mask enjoying produce in the middle of the crowds.
Faced with the rise of Omicron, the British Prime Minister is doing everything, he says, to speed up the vaccination campaign.
"
We are adopting a balanced and proportionate approach,"
assures the head of government.
The most important thing is that we still believe that the best protection against all variants is to get a booster and I'm still confident this Christmas will be considerably better than last Christmas.
"
"Do not socialize when you don't need it"
Objective: a 3rd dose for all adults before the end of January.
"
No need to change your plans
" for Christmas, echoed the Minister of Health.
But at the same time, Jenny Harries, a public health doctor who advises the government, recommends something quite different.
“
If we all decrease our social contact a bit, it will help keep the variant away.
I think you have to be careful not to socialize when you don't particularly need it
.
She agrees with the government on one point: she does not envisage new confinement.
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Read also: The United Kingdom will ban travelers from six African countries because of the new variant
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UK
Boris Johnson
Coronavirus
Vaccines
Confinement