Government’s “Plan B” for Covid comes into force

Due to the rising cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Prime Minster Boris Johnson has announced this afternoon (Wednesday 8th December 2021) that “Plan B” has come into force.

Plan B was introduced during the announcements of the government’s plans for tackling Covid during autumn and winter in England on 14^th September 2021, and the PM expanded on this during today’s press conference.

The new rules include:

– Working from home, where people are able to do so. Employers have the rest of this week to put plans in place to accommodate this, and from Monday 13th December people are expected to put this in action.

– Covid passports in nightclubs and similar crowded settings.

This includes unseated indoor venues of more than 500 people, outdoor settings of over 4,000 and any venue with over 10,000 people. A negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient instead of the Covid certification.

This is to be introduced from next Wednesday, 15th December.

– Face coverings will be a legal requirement in “most public venues”, including theatres and cinemas from Friday 10th December. It is not yet clear if this includes hospitality, though the PM did say masks need not be worn when eating or drinking.

Face masks are already a legal requirement in shops, banks, post offices, hairdressers and on public transport as of 30 November.

Another recent change required all contacts of suspected Omicron cases to self-isolate for 10 days, even if they are fully vaccinated, and changes to international travel requirements.

The Prime Minister has also urged those who have not yet done so, to get their vaccination, or booster jab when possible.