Which begs little questions like just how long it has been around, where did it really originate and just what percentage of PCR tests are actually sequenced in the UK?

Ah, OK - got it :) I thought maybe the implication was those steely Scots were somehow more vigilant......

With the NHS there could be a 5 week waiting list for sequencing!

Ahh, so this little nasty could be well on its way to dominance already?

My comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, but you may only find something if you are looking for it.

Daily data:

Cases 42,583 (44,917 last Monday)
Deaths 35 (45)
People vaccinated up to and including 28 November 2021:
First dose: 50,941,327
Second dose: 46,341,057
Booster: 17,896,864

The rolling seven day daily average for cases is now up 3.7% on the previous week and the same measure for deaths is down 18.4%. The rolling 7 day daily average for deaths is 119.7 today.

Two changes today for England

Self isolation after being notified as a close contact
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1338/made
- for a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus and is suspected/confirmed as having omicron, the exemptions from self-isolation (those taking part in covid research, fully vaccinated, participating in a clinical vaccine trial, or clinically unable to be vaccinated) do not apply
- effective 0400 30 Nov
- nothing about including non UK vaccines as exemptions from self isolation, this was touted as being done from 1 Dec so perhaps in another SI due out beforehand or even no longer being done?

Face coverings England
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/.../contents/made
- effective 0400 30 Nov
- face coverings required in shops, enclosed shopping centres, post offices, banks, in a car during driving tests, on public transport and in a transport hub
- not required in cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs

The BBC was reporting earlier that if you're contacted by T&T, there were no longer any exemptions from the requirement to self-isolate. As you note here, it seems only those who can't be vaccinated or are part of a trial are listed in the actual legislation. Maybe they jumped the gun?

They do seem to be being dragged kicking and screaming towards doing the right thing but am pleased to see the (English) Gov are finally encouraging more sensible precautions. The contrast on arriving in Berlin this evening (c.99% compliance) and three tubes on London earlier (maybe 50-60% compliance) couldn’t have been starker.

Well that certainly is one point of view. You might have a look at current infection rates in Germany and draw some conclusions about how effective this 99% face mask compliance has actually been.

....alternatively you might draw conclusions about just how bad the situation might have been in Germany if face mask compliance hadn't been so high.

Sure, there is always room for an argument based on the hypothetical, it is almost limitless in it's use since we can imagine any scenario and state we aren't there because of X :)

It's also interesting to see that within the UK there is little if any difference between areas which maintained mask mandates post July (Scotland and Wales) and areas which didn't (England). I am sure the effect of masks isn't zero, but it seems pretty insignificant based on real world experience. Fundamentally the only real way we have found that infection rates can be controlled is to stop mixing of households.

Why on earth would you only compare the current rate of infection?! Surely a better comparison would be to compare cumulative infection rate in the four month period since England removed masks, social distance etc.

You are comparing apples and oranges as the UK’s fourth wave started some months ago. Since freedom day the UK has had 4.6m cases and 16k deaths from Covid. Over the same period, Germany has had 1.9m cases and 8k deaths.

Edit - Apologies KARFA. I responded before reading your follow up comment. Of course you are right that there are a range of different factors. But equally, masks are a simple prophylactic measure that have been repeatedly shown to lower the spread of respiratory diseases. The UK government has repeatedly placed personal responsibility above public health nudges and people have responded accordingly. And the human costs of those decisions have, in my view, been great.

You may have missed the “fully vaccinated” wording that’s in there. This is exactly in line with earlier media reports.