Virus spike no easing
» PM: Fastest
PLAN B measures will stay in place for three more weeks with Covid cases in the over-60s now doubling every seven days, the PM has said.
Boris Johnson warned the Omicron wave has yet to peak, adding: “We’re experiencing the fastest growth in Covid cases we’ve ever known.”
He told MPs of soaring cases among the elderly and vulnerable and said hospital admissions are “doubling around every nine days”.
Measures including working from home and masks in many indoor settings will remain until at least January 26, with MPs voting on any extension.
No10 refused to rule out further restrictions, saying it was “too early to judge” what the full impact of Omicron would be – even though Government scientists have said any new measures would now be too late to make a difference.
New infections in older people began to rise sharply in mid-December. The rolling case rate in over-60s
was 852 on December 30, the