The national papers are running with more new Omicron findings amid record cases and a quietening of lockdown calls.
The Guardian leads with a plea for caution from Sage despite the results. Although the UK Health Security Agency study found the risk of hospital admission is up to 70% less with Omicron than Delta, Sage warned a 90% drop in severity may be needed for the wave to stop short of the UK's previous hospitalisation peak.
Guardian front page, 24 December 2021: Keep your celebrations small, doctors urge Britons pic.twitter.com/V1Zw3RegCR
- The Guardian (@guardian) December 23, 2021
The Daily Telegraph adds to its report of the same study with comments from insiders that it is "increasingly unlikely" new rules will be introduced before New Year's Eve. The i also highlights the optimistic findings, with the paper saying it eases the "threat" of restrictions in England after Christmas.
??The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'New Year's Eve likely to escape new curbs'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/wHsObig3SI
- The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 23, 2021
I WEEKEND: New hope on Omicron as lockdown threat eases #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/S6hvdNLDNz
- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 23, 2021
But the Financial Times, also leading with the new study, says Boris Johnson's Cabinet is "deadlocked" over the question of post-Christmas curbs.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, for Friday 24th December pic.twitter.com/2fktYFPEeN
- Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) December 23, 2021
The Independent features new figures revealing NHS staff absences have risen by 50% in a week as hospitalisations rose.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Hospitals feel strain #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/41xbJQvvLc
- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 23, 2021
The Daily Mail has a very royal-focused front page on Christmas Eve, running with the Sussexes' new family photo and a preview of the Queen's Christmas Day message.
Friday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/SyzP62e8fC
- Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 23, 2021
The Daily Express and Daily Mirror also run with the Queen's speech and its focus on the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh.
EXPRESS: Queen shares pain of her loss #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/PrcXveajgG
- Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 23, 2021
Tomorrow's front page: Always by her side#tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/6IuGR4mHve pic.twitter.com/eO3o8oWsgt
- The Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 23, 2021
And the Daily Star says Nasa is being urged "to help astronauts have more sex in space".
Tomorrow's Daily Star front page: Thrusters to warp speed, captain.https://t.co/WwbM6gf25z pic.twitter.com/kLQRPQa9Tl
- Daily Star (@dailystar) December 23, 2021