Tighter Christmas restrictions not ruled out

Health secretary Sajid Javid is not ruling out a two-week lockdown for the UK, and admits tighter curbs may be needed this Christmas.

“We are assessing the situation, it’s very fast-moving. We’ve seen with Omicron there’s a lot that we still don’t know,” Javid told the BBC

“At this point we just have to keep everything under review.”

Reports emerged that health advisors are drawing up plans for a two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown after Christmas which would call for a ban on indoor gatherings.

Additionally, the Financial Times reported PM Boris Johnson has received various options under a Plan C scenario which ranges from ‘mild guidance to nudge people, to a full lockdown.’

The government’s Plan B was passed in a Parliament vote last week.

Face masks are now mandatory in all indoor facilities in England, following guidance already in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

People are now required to show proof of vaccination status on entry, or a recent negative Covid test to enter nightclubs and other venues.