Masks
Masks must be worn in public places and shops. Masks will be required to be worn in cinemas, theatres, and other places of worship starting tomorrow.
Even when they are walking, their faces will be covered in bars and restaurants.
Vaccine passports
To gain access to large venues, you will require a NHS Covid Pass (or a negative flow test) starting next Wednesday.
They are required for nightclubs as well as indoor unseated venues hosting more than 500 guests. Unseated outdoor venues that hold more than 4,000 guests, and those with over 10,000 people will require them.
Boris Johnson revealed that this evening’s Downing Street press event was announcing that the Government would implement Plan B to counter the Omicron Covid variant.
Homework is a great way to work
The guidance for working from home will change starting Monday.
Boris Johnson said: ‘Go to work if you must but work from home if you can.’
Self-isolation
If someone tests positive for Covid, people won’t have to isolate themselves.
They will instead be asked to do a daily lateral flow test and, if necessary, isolate. This should ease fears of a new ‘pingdemic’.
Rules on mask wearing are to be extended to cover theatres, cinemas and places of worship (stock photo)
Why are ministers claiming that the new rules need to be created?
Sajid Javid claimed they were necessary because of 1million Omicron cases expected to be filed by the end-of-the month.
He said that while there had been 568 confirmed cases of the disease, it is likely that around 10,000 people are affected.
He said he was ‘confident Omicron is significantly more transmissible than Delta’ and this means the NHS could come under ‘unsustainable pressure’ during a ‘perilous winter’.
What will be the duration of this?
Mr Javid said the new rules will be reviewed in four weeks – on January 5. On January 26, the law which implements the additional restrictions will expire.
What impact will this have on the economy?
Experts said the new restrictions could cost the economy £4billion a month.
The Institute for Economic Affairs said they could ‘easily’ knock 2 per cent off the size of the economy.
The Prime Minister plans to increase the speed of Covid booster programmes. He said booster jabs are likely to be enough to fight off the threat of the Omicron variant (stock photo)
Boosters
The Prime Minister stated that booster shots are sufficient to combat the Omicron variant threat.
He added there is a ‘strong possibility the combination of two jabs and booster is capable of holding Omicron in equilibrium for as long as we want’.
The Pfizer vaccine provides the same amount of protection against variants as the original, according to a study.
Anti-viral Pills: A new hope
Ministers said thousands of lives will be saved this winter by two ‘game-changing’ new Covid treatments being rolled out in the NHS.
Patients who are at risk for contracting the virus may be given molnupiravir. This is a medication that can be taken twice daily and which reduces the chance of dying by 30%.
The Government has secured 480,000 courses of the antiviral drug, costing around £500 each. Ronapreve is a second option that reduces deaths by 70%.