What the papers say – December 15
The ominous emergence of a new strain of the coronavirus dominates Britain’s newspapers on Tuesday.
The Guardian says “millions more” people are facing tier 3 restrictions in Britain due to the appearance of the new strain.
Guardian front page, Tuesday 15 December 2020: Millions more face tier 3 as new strain of virus emerges pic.twitter.com/XBpnArS9Aa
— The Guardian (@guardian) December 14, 2020
The Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and the Daily Mirror also splash on the new development in the battle against Covid-19.
TELEGRAPH: London plunged into toughest tier as ministers warn of new virus strain #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/aLV36g27Cq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 14, 2020
Tomorrow's front page: 'Fears over new fast-spreading covid strain' https://t.co/X6dFZfO0Yr#TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/QgmhbiyKDZ
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) December 14, 2020
Tomorrow's front page: New strain and more pain #tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/xvaFQ8ln60pic.twitter.com/Al5svSIIzx
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 14, 2020
The Times also says the new strain is “feared to be driving up virus cases”, alongside a report on social media companies facing large fines if they do not do more to protect children.
New strain feared to be driving up virus cases#TomorrowsPapersToday@hendopolispic.twitter.com/wTfXWg8tPP
— The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) December 14, 2020
And Metro leads with London being put into tier 3 due to what it calls “mutant Covid”.
Tuesday's front page:MUTANT COVID#tomorrowspaperstoday#BBCPapers#skypaperspic.twitter.com/gmH7zGoi9D
— Metro Newspaper UK (@MetroUKNews) December 14, 2020
The i says the Prime Minister is being “urged to rethink Christmas bubbles” amid the renewed virus threat, which The Independent says has put family celebrations of Christmas at risk.
Tuesday's front page: PM is urged to rethink Christmas bubbles #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/NvKGk1c6go
— i newspaper (@theipaper) December 14, 2020
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Rapid Covid spread puts family Christmas at risk #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/VNCyrfRZqn
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 14, 2020
And the Daily Mail also asks if Christmas is in jeopardy due to the latest twist in the Covid saga, while publishing more developments in their investigation into the Duke of York.
Tuesday's @DailyMailUK#MailFrontPagespic.twitter.com/wV5qPDMVb4
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 14, 2020
Businesses have been thrown into despair by the stricter tier 3 restrictions placed on London and the south-east, according to the Financial Times.
Front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 15 December https://t.co/WLPDCntWaRpic.twitter.com/W5bVQsFyy2
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) December 15, 2020
And the Daily Star dresses up Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson as clowns, highlighting how the closure of schools contradicts their earlier assurances about the virus.
STAR: We must not tell fibs #TomorrowsPapersTodaypic.twitter.com/fYHIL53KGk
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 14, 2020