THE Prime Minister will hold a press conference at 5pm on Wednesday to give an update on the situation with the Omicron variant of coronavirus, Downing Street has confirmed.

Boris Johnson is expected to update the country on the progress of the booster jab programme.

It is understood he will not be announcing any further coronavirus measures.

Mr Johnson will be joined at the press conference by chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, a tweet from Downing Street confirmed.

How to watch Boris Johnson press conference

The Covid announcement can be streamed through the UK Government’s Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Twitch channels.

 

The medical director of primary care for NHS England, Dr Nikki Kanani, will also appear at the briefing.

Earlier today, the PM defended his controversial plan for Covid passes after a massive rebellion by Tory MPs left the opposition parties questioning his authority to lead the country through the pandemic.

After 100 Conservatives opposed the measure in the Commons on Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister acknowledged there were “legitimate anxieties” about the impact on civil liberties.

But during a noisy session of Prime Minister’s Questions, he insisted the approach the Government had taken in the face of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant was “balanced and proportionate and right”.

However, Sir Keir Starmer said the vote had exposed the weakness of a premier who had lost the trust of the public and of his own MPs following reports of parties last Christmas in No 10 in breach of Covid regulations.

“We cannot go on with a Prime Minister who is too weak to lead, so will the Prime Minister take time this Christmas to look in the mirror and ask himself if he has the trust and authority to lead this country?” he demanded.

Mr Johnson retorted: “I respect and understand the legitimate anxieties colleagues have about restrictions on the liberty of the people but I believe the approach that we are taking is balanced and proportionate and right for this country.”

 

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