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.’

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)

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.