It was revealed last night that plans for an indoor mixing ban and a circuit breaker lasting two weeks are in the works.

Leaked minutes of a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) warn that restrictions are needed ‘very soon’ to avoid hospitalisations rising to 3,000 a day.

The experts supported a ban of indoor social contact and invitations during the Thursday meeting.

Britons are worried about New Year celebrations and want to see new measures before January 1.

‘The timing of such measures is crucial,’ said the minutes, seen by the BBC.

‘Delaying until 2022 would greatly reduce the effectiveness of such interventions and make it less likely that these would prevent considerable pressure on health and care settings.’ 

Officer for England Chris Whitty (L) and Britain's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance hold a press conference for the latest Covid-19 update in the Downing Street briefing room in central London on December 8, 2021.

L-Today, Officer for England Chris Whitty and Britain’s Chief Scientist Adviser Patrick Vallance held a press conference to announce the most recent Covid-19 updates in London’s Downing Street briefing area on December 8, 2021.

There are plans to introduce bans on indoor social contact before January 1 according to leaked minutes from a SAGE meeting (pictured: General view of the crowd during day two of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, London. Picture date: Thursday December 16, 2021)

There are plans to introduce bans on indoor social contact before January 1 according to leaked minutes from a SAGE meeting (pictured: General view of the crowd during day two of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, London. Picture date: Thursday December 16, 2021)

Many business leaders have been left enraged by advice from government scientists to cut down on socialising which has led to a collapse in trade. (Pictured: A closed venue in Leeds)

Numerous business leaders are angry at government scientists’ advice to reduce socializing, which has caused a decline in trade. (Pictured in Leeds: Closed venue

According to The Times, Whitehall officials are currently preparing regulations which would prohibit indoor meeting except for work. Pubs and restaurants would only be allowed outside service. 

Sage minutes report that advisers suggested returning to restrictions laid out in Step One, Two, of the roadmap. This included an end to indoor social contact.

They warned that solely sticking to Plan B could lead to ‘at least’ 3,000 hospital admissions a day in England. In the last week, admissions were between 800-900 per day. Introducing these measures early enough ‘could substantially reduce the peak in hospital admission and infections compared with Plan B alone’, the minutes said.

Boris Johnson was presented with several options yesterday for a so-called Plan C, ranging from ‘mild guidance to nudge people, right through to lockdown’, according to the Financial Times.

This weekend, ministers will determine whether new restrictions for Covid are necessary in light of the recent dire warnings by scientists.

According to the Sage minutes, the advisers recommended moving back to restrictions set down in Step One and Two of the roadmap out of lockdown in the spring, which involved a ban on indoor social contact and indoor hospitality (Pictured: an empty ChachaBuchi restaurant)

Sage minutes indicate that the advisors suggested moving back to Step One and Two in the roadmap. This included a ban of indoor social contact in spring. (Picture: An empty ChachaBuchi Restaurant).

Ministers will decide this weekend whether any new Covid restrictions are needed following the latest dire warnings from scientists. An emergency Cobra meeting will discuss if a joint response to the threat of the Omicron variant is needed across the UK. (The PM is pictured in west London on Friday)

Following the recent dire warnings by scientists, ministers will make a decision this weekend about whether new restrictions for Covid. A Cobra emergency meeting will be held to discuss whether a coordinated response is required across the UK in light of Omicron’s threat. (The Prime Minister is seen in London’s west on Friday).

The UK’s Omicron variant threat will be discussed at an emergency Cobra meeting. The meeting will raise fears that more curbs could even be imposed before Christmas – despite the opposition of Tory MPs and Downing Street’s apparent determination to get through without them.

On Thursday night, the Welsh government declared that they would shut down nightclubs in December and put in place a 2-meter social distancing policy for offices. This weekend’s Cobra meeting, involving ministers from all the devolved administrations, is the second in a matter of days.

Mr Johnson had crisis talks earlier in the week with three leaders of devolved governments, including Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister.

Rishi Sunak would be under greater pressure to provide more assistance to the sector of hospitality, already hard hit by warnings about the new strain.

Rishi Sunak (California’s Chancellor) was photographed arriving back at the UK to meet furious bosses in hospitality who were struggling with falling demand because of the Omicron mutation strain. 

Although Mr Sunak was in America on a ‘long-planned trip’ to meet with tech leaders, his timing has been criticized. One top British executive told the FT that he had too many ‘organic kale savories’.

Pictures taken in Leeds, London and Newcastle showed once-packed nightlife venues had taken a battering as just a handful of revellers were seen enjoying festive nights out on so-called Black Eye Friday – one of the busiest nights out of the year. 

As Omicron tightened its grip on the country this week, pubs and restaurants were already forced to close due to staff shortages or lack of customers. 

Any further restrictions would increase the pressure on Rishi Sunak to give more help to the hospitality sector, which has been hit by the warnings over the new strain. On Friday, the Chancellor met business leaders to discuss their concerns after he was forced to return early from a work trip to San Francisco. (Above, he is seen arriving at Heathrow)

Rishi Sunak would be under greater pressure to provide more assistance to the sector of hospitality, already hard hit by warnings about the strain. After being forced to cancel his San Francisco work trip, the Chancellor met with business leaders on Friday to address their concerns. (Above, you can see him arriving at Heathrow.

Industry experts are concerned that Government messages concerning the Omicron mutant virus strain may be alarming customers during peak times for restaurants, bars, and pubs. 

December is expected to see a drop in festive takings of up to 40%. This could be a crippling blow to venues that have survived without financial assistance during lockdowns before.

Yesterday, Mr Sunak met with hospitality executives via Zoom. However, he had to cancel one roundtable event due to a call scheduled with US healthcare leaders.  

Many are outraged at the advice of government scientists to reduce socializing, which has caused a decline in trade.

Restaurants and hospitality venues in Leeds town centre are pictured empty on Friday evening

On Friday night, Leeds’s main restaurants and other hospitality establishments are shown empty

CBI, along with other groups, asked for emergency grants and 100 percent relief in business rates for retail. They also requested that VAT be reduced from 5% to 5% for tourism and hospitality.

It came as figures showed that footfall in London’s West End on Thursday was 32 per cent down on the same day in 2019, before the pandemic. These numbers fell 7 percentage points compared to a week prior.

Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of New West End Company, said: ‘The Government must act quickly to provide temporary financial support to leisure businesses across the UK, otherwise we run the risk of further viable businesses closing their doors in the coming months.’

The Institute of Directors’ chief economist, Kitty Ussher, said it made sense to unwind pandemic-related support schemes when business conditions were returning to normal but the Omicron variant made a rethink necessary. 

BOOSTERS IN A RACECOURSE 

This weekend, almost 3000 sites will serve as vaccine centres.

The NHS is ‘pulling out all the stops’ to make it as easy as possible to get a booster jab, said the NHS’s medical director Professor Stephen Powis.

To encourage work, pharmacists and GPs will receive more money for jabs during the holiday period. The fee will rise from £15 to £20 a dose from December 25 to January 3. It comes after London’s vaccine shortage forced some London pharmacies to cancel jab appointments yesterday.

Boris Johnson has pledged that all adults who are eligible will be offered a booster vaccine before the year ends. Staff will be vaccinating at 2,900 centres this weekend, including at three football grounds – Anfield, Stamford Bridge and Wembley – and Chelmsford Racecourse.

The Department of Health insisted there were ‘no supply issues with vaccine doses’.