‘Plan B’ restrictions announced by Johnson

Boris Johnson has announced a slew of new covid restrictions to halt the spread of the Omicron variant.

The government has called for people to work from home, and announced vaccine certification will be required for entry into nightclubs and large indoor and outdoor venues. A negative lateral flow test will remain sufficient for entry.

At a Downing Street briefing, the prime minister said: “Let’s do everything we can to protect our loved ones this Christmas.”

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty revealed that the number of people going to hospital and dying of covid has been steadily decreasing, although the number of people infected is doubling every “two or three days”.

Government data also showed people are far more likely to be hospitalised if they are not vaccinated, and Johnson called for people to quickly receive their booster jabs.