People who test positive on lateral flow tests but have no symptoms will no longer have to wait to confirm the result with a PCR – meaning they can immediately start their seven-day isolation, the Telegraph reports.
The Daily Telegraph leads with a warning from the head of Britain’s vaccine body that fourth COVID jabs should not be offered to people until there is more evidence they are effective.
The Daily Telegraph writes that the government’s plan to force children to wear a face mask while at school faces a backlash.
The head of NHS Test and Trace has been made a dame, despite the “testing chaos that is threatening the new year return to work and schools”, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Prince Andrew has been told the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell proves justice will prevail “whether you’re a president or a prince”, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has told MPs there will be “no quick fix” to a growing COVID testing crisis as officials warned the system would be overwhelmed within days and he privately admitted there was a global shortage of tests, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt that people with COVID-19 are still being told by NHS messages to quarantine for the full 10-day period even though the government has said this can be cut to a week or less for most people if they test negative.
No fresh restrictions to “spoil New Year’s Eve”, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Schools are drawing up plans to send whole year groups home amid growing concern that Omicron will lead to staff shortages spiralling out of control next month, reports The Daily Telegraph.
The Daily Telegraph’s government sources say COVID restrictions on New Year’s Eve are increasingly unlikely after an official report confirmed Omicron is likely to be a milder variant.