New Covid rules as England moves to PM’S Plan B
NEW Covid restrictions are to come in across England as part of Plan B to stop the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the variant is spreading rapidly across the country, including a case in Staffordshire. He said cases of the variant were doubling every two to three days and the country needed to act.
Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said it meant that in around two weeks hospitalisations would inevitably start to increase.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the UK Health Security Agency estimates the number of infections “are approximately 20 times” those known - so were closer to 10,000.
Professor Whitty added: “We know that it looked as if it was going to evade vaccination. We know that it can.”
As a result the Government is introducing Plan B. It means:
Mandatory vaccine passports:
Certain venues will be forced to ask all customers for an NHS Covid pass. Under previous plans, only the vaccine part would be valid. People would no longer be able to show a negative test.
Mr Johnson announced he is putting this plan into action from 6am on Wednesday, December 15. Contrary to previous plans, he said “a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient” to get you into a nightclub even if you aren’t double-jabbed. People who haven’t had the booster, having two doses of vaccine will still be sufficient for now, but Mr Johnson said “we will keep this under review”.
They also include indoor, crowded settings with 500 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to be in close proximity to people from other households, such as music venues or large receptions; outdoor, crowded settings with 4,000 or more attendees; any settings with 10,000 or more attendees, such as sports and music stadia.
Working from home: Companies have been told to talk to their staff this week about how to make working from home happen again.
Mandatory face masks:
Face masks have been mandatory by law in England’s shops, supermarkets, indoor shopping centres, public transport including taxis, banks and post offices since November 28. They are also compulsory at hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing studios.
And they’re needed during driving tests and lessons – plus at pharmacies, vets, auction houses, retail galleries, takeaways, estate and lettings agents, high street solicitors and accountants.
Mr Johnson announced they will be extended to “most public indoor venues including theatres and cinemas” too from 12.01am today. There will be exemptions for eating, drinking, exercising, and singing. For that reason, hospitality venues will be exempt.
Those who do not comply can be fined £200 for a first offence (£100 if you pay within two weeks), doubling on each repeat offence up to £6,400. Police will be expected to enforce the rules.
Daily contact testing:
Current rules say any contact of a suspected Omicron case must isolate for 10 days. Mr Johnson said the Government will introduce daily tests for contacts instead of isolation. He did not say when.