England moves to Plan B

The government has announced the introduction of COVID-19 Plan B restrictions in England to help limit the spread of the Omicron variant. The move is in response to evidence that the doubling time of Omicron in the UK could currently be between two and three days. 

The proposed Plan B measures being introduced are the following: 

• From Monday 13 December, those who can will be advised to work from home. 
• From Friday 10 December, the legal requirement to wear a face mask will be extended to most public indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas. There will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear one, such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising.
• From Wednesday 15 December, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.
• People will be able to demonstrate proof of two vaccine doses using the NHS app. Proof of a negative lateral flow test will also be accepted.
• The introduction of daily contact tests for confirmed contacts of Omicron cases instead of the ten-day self-isolation period.

All measures are subject to parliamentary approval. The government will keep the data under constant review. The regulations set to expire six weeks after implementation, with a review after three weeks.

Further information available on gov.uk/coronavirus (external link)