money, i think over £200 million for those who are particularly affected by the restrictions applied because of covid 19. we are doing everything we can, and i think one of the things we have done as well as with the vaccines as we have safeguarded jobs and livelihoods through the fellow scheme and bounce back loans and grants, and we will look at doing everything we need to do to stimulate the economy. i would also say that our economy, as a result of the measures the prime minister and chancellor have taken, is one of the strongest in the g7. jobs are up. we are mindful of those that are suffering. we have taken the action to put it in that position. shopper numbers across britain s dropped over the weekend of the 18th and 19th december, as the spread of the omicron variant kept people at home. that s according to research from springboard, which says footfall fell 8.5% in central london, and 6.4%
900,000 got their booster, and at the same time we have got this plan b. more wearing of masks and more crowded environments, the work from home where you can guidance, and i think that is the right approach to take. untilwe think that is the right approach to take. until we are at the point where we have got clearer data on the severity of omicron, that is the missing piece right now. of course, we are keeping it under review, hour tjy we are keeping it under review, hour by hour, day by day. do we are keeping it under review, hour by hour. day by day- by hour, day by day. do you feel that tighter by hour, day by day. do you feel that tighter restrictions - by hour, day by day. do you feel that tighter restrictions are - that tighter restrictions are inevitable, and can we expect an announcement before christmas day? what we know is that omicron is spreading. it is doubling something like every two or three days. we also know that if you get your booster, you are over 70% protected
really wanted to bank as good a christmas as possible to put them is in as good as dead as possible for the challenges that will no doubt come in the months ahead. thank you, ed beth. come in the months ahead. thank you, ed beth- come in the months ahead. thank you, ed beth. emma. the leading infectious disease expert in the united states, dr anthony fauci has warned that christmas travel will increase the spread of the omicron covid 19 variant, even among the fully vaccinated. dr fauci said that on current trends the spread of omicron could put serious stresses on us hospitals. governments in europe are also watching the rapid spread of omicron and debating the introduction of further restrictions to keep the infection rates low. mark lobel reports. testing times in florida for those waiting to find out if they have the virus. the southern state s republican governor has rejected federal mask and vaccine mandates as its health department reports a doubling
record numbers of people are continuing to come forward for their booster vaccine, with just days to go before christmas. but daily covid cases have also reached record highs. many are wondering if further restrictions are needed in england to slow the spread of omicron. the health secretary, sajid javid, hasn t ruled out possible new measures. there were no guarantees in this pandemic, he said. devolved administrations are also getting additional covid funding. the uk government said it would double the amount available to help administrations take precautions they feel necessary to keep people safe. but the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, said on twitter that they needed much more action and support urgently from the uk government. the rapid spread of the omicron variant has seen london declare a major incident.
record numbers of people are continuing to come forward for their booster vaccine, with just days to go before christmas. but daily covid cases have also reached record highs. many are wondering if further restrictions are needed in england to slow the spread of omicron. the health secretary, sajid javid, hasn t ruled out possible new measures. there were no guarantees in this pandemic, he said. devolved administrations are also getting additional covid funding. the uk government said it would double the amount available to help administrations take precautions they feel necessary to keep people safe. but the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, said on twitter that they needed much more action and support urgently from the uk government. the rapid spread of the omicron variant has seen london declare a major incident. hospital staff absences in the capital are on the rise.