Boris Johnson announced last wee that the UK is moving to Plan B lockdown with Omicron cases now doubling every few days. The new variant has already outstripped Delta as the dominant variant in London, and politicians and senior doctors are warning of a huge spike in Omicron cases in the next month.
The Government announced last week that we were moving to plan B, which included a directive to work from home if you can, an increased mandatory use of masks, and the introduction of NHS Covid passes in nightclubs and other, similar larger indoor venues.
'It’s now the proportionate and the responsible thing to move to plan B,' Johnson said in a press conference last week, announcing the measures. However, when MPs voted through the changes last night, almost 100 Conservative MPs - almost a third of Johnson's backbenchers - voted against them it what turned out to be a huge rebellion.
Despite the difficulty getting Plan B through the House Of Commons, the sharp rise in cases, and the possibility that the NHS and many other basic services could be overwhelmed by the new year has led to increasing reports that that the government is considering moving to Plan C measures due to the spread of the virus - which could see many old measures reintroduced.
What are the Plan B lockdown rules?
It means the government have initiated a mandatory work from home order and extended mask-wearing to all public venues indoors. Covid passes will also be mandatory for large venues.
'We will make the NHS COVID pass mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues where large crowds gather, including unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, and seated outdoor venues with more than 4000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people,' Johnson explained.
He also encouraged the public to get a vaccine booster, stating 'play your part and get boosted.'
If pressure on the NHS worsens and hospitals become overwhelmed again, we will be forced to move to Plan C (which you can learn more about below).
When are the new covid restrictions coming into force?
The UK will move to Plan B on Friday.
What are the new rules on masks?
In England, face coverings are now compulsory again in all public venues. 'From this Friday we will further extend the legal requirement to wear a face masks in public indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas,' Boris said in today's press conference.
What is an NHS Covid pass?
An NHS Covid Pass shows your coronavirus vaccination details or test results. If you have been fully-vaccinated or received negative test results, you can use the NHS Covid pass for entry into large indoor public events and nightclubs as explained above.
NHS Covid passes are sometimes referred to as 'covid passports', but these are the same thing - you can download one for use in the UK or a specific international travel one.
How do you get an NHS Covid pass or covid passport?
You can get an NHS Covid Pass digitally through the NHS App or the online NHS COVID Pass service. You can download your digital NHS COVID Pass and print it.
If you cannot apply digitally using the NHS App or online service, you can ask for an NHS COVID Pass letter to be sent to you in the post.
What are the new self isolation rules?
Self isolation rules in England
People who've come into contact with Omicron cases currently have to go into self-isolation for 10 days. However, under Plan B ministers intend to change the rules so they can do daily lateral flow tests, instead.
You must self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test as soon as possible if you have any of the following symptoms of Covid, even if they are mild:
Persistent new cough
Temperature
Loss of taste or smell
You should also self-isolate straight away if you've tested positive for Covid – this means you have the virus - or if someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive (unless you are not required to self-isolate – check below if this applies to you).
You must also self-isolate if you've been told to following contact with someone who tested positive – you can find out what to do if you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app.
When do I not need to self-isolate?
According to the NHS website, if you live with or have been in contact with someone with Covid, you will not need to self-isolate if any of the following apply:
You have been fully vaccinated
You are under 18 years of age and six months
You are taking part in an approved Covid medical trial
You are exempt from vaccinations for medical reasons.
However, if you live with or have been in contact with someone who may have the Omicron variant of Covid, this does not apply and you’ll still need to self-isolate. NHS Test and Trace will contact you if this is the case.
Even if you do not have symptoms, you should still get a PCR test to check if you have Covid and follow advice on how to avoid catching and spreading Covid (plus consider limiting contact with people who are at higher risk from Covid.)
Self isolation rules in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, you should immediately begin self-isolating and book a PCR test. You should also continue to isolate until the result of the test is available. If the result is positive you should continue to self-isolate for 10 full days after the symptoms started.
The self-isolation period can end 10 days after your symptoms started, as long as you do not still have a high temperature. If you still have a high temperature, you need to continue to self-isolate until your temperature has returned to normal for 48 hours.
In Northern Ireland, if you come into close contact with someone who tests positive for Covid (other than the Omricon variant), and you are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, then you do not have to self isolate, but you must do a PCR test on days two and eight in the 10 days following your contact with that person.
Self isolation rules in Wales
In Wales residents will have to self isolate for 10 days, even if fully vaccinated, if you come into contact with a probable or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of Covid. Self-isolation rules apply to adults and children of all ages.
In Wales, if you come into close contact with someone who tests positive for Covid (other than the Omricon variant), and you are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, then you do not have to self isolate, but you must do a PCR test on days two and eight in the 10 days following your contact with that person. The Welsh government also advises that you take extra care in this time, including by using Lateral Flow Tests regularly, avoiding close contact with vulnerable people, and working from home where possible.
Self isolation rules in Scotland
In Scotland, everyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 - should take this as a means to isolate straight away. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said, 'All close contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be advised to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status.'NHS Test and protect will contact and advise anyone tested positive for the Omicron variant. Furthermore, with the Omicron variant, they will now ask the household contacts of that case to also self-isolate for 10 days, whether or not they return a negative PCR test for Covid.
The close contacts advice differs slightly from other variants. If you have any variant you must self-isolate for at least 10 days. Close contacts of those with variants other than Omicron who are fully vaccinated may end their isolation upon receiving a negative PCR test, but the Scottish government advises that they take extra care over the 10 days when they would otherwise have been isolating.
What is Plan C?
According to reports by the Mail and the I, the government are already looking at Plan C restrictions - which sound like measures which have previously been scrapped. Potentially, it would include face masks in settings that are currently exempt, such as pubs, restaurants, gyms and school classrooms - and checking in to bars and restaurants again by the NHS app, or providing your contact details in writing. According to the I, this could also mean 10-day self-isolation for all contacts of confirmed Covid variants, which has already been reintroduced in Scotland. And a No10 source also told the Mail that this might meant the amount of visitors for those in care homes would be limited to three over Christmas.
Last month, rumours started circulating that a Plan C lcokdown was being discussed by the government which would enforce tougher Covid restrictions in the UK. At the time, Sajid Javid predicted new infections could hit a record 100,000 a day and urged those eligible to come forward for booster jabs. He also asked the public to continue to wear masks in crowded places and take a Covid test before going to Christmas parties.
However, heath minister Edward Argar denied rumours at the time that Plan C was coming into effect, as reported in the Daily Telegraph. He confirmed that Plan C is not ‘actively being considered.’
‘That's not something I'm aware of, I checked it out and I'm told that is not a story with foundation,' he told Sky News. 'Of course, as a government you look at, as we've done with Plan B, alternatives and ways that you might if you needed to start easing that pressure.'
Christmas lockdown 2021: Is the UK going into another lockdown?
So far, there has been no official word on whether England will enter another lockdown but secretary of state for health and social Care, Sajid Javid, said the government is monitoring the situation, and added that the most important thing people could do 'to keep the virus at bay' is to get vaccinated.
In September, the health secretary announced a list of measures which would be imposed if the NHS became overstrained again. Another lockdown was not included in that plan, though reintroducing working from home, face masks, and Covid passports was.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are each responsible for their own Covid rules.
In October, the Sunday Times reported that Boris Johnson was waiting to get climate change summit Cop 26 out of the way before imposing any new restrictions. When pressed on whether we could see a new lockdown, the prime minister said there were no signs we needed to go into another lockdown 'at the moment,' which didn't exactly ease concerns.
Meanwhile, Professor Peter Openshaw, a government scientist who sits on NERVTAG (New And Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Group), said he feared 'another lockdown Christmas if we don't act soon' to control the spread of the virus.
What is the Omicron covid variant?
The new strain, originally called ‘nu’ and now referred to as 'Omicron' was found in South Africa but Europe’s first case was identified in Belgium. A number of European countries have strengthened Covid restrictions in response to rising numbers of cases such as Austria, which announced a full national lockdown this week.
The news led Britons to fear we may be subject to a December lockdown in the UK. In fact, 'Covid 19 lockdown Europe', 'Lockdown December 2021' and 'Is UK going into another lockdown?' are all breakout search queries on Google.
READ MORE: Is The Government Priming Us For Another Christmas Lockdown?
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