Another 633 more Omicron cases have been recorded in the UK, in the biggest daily increase so far, bringing the total cases to 1,898.
In England there are 618 more than yesterday, 11 more in Scotland, two more in Wales and two in Northern Ireland.
Dr Jenny Harries, UKHSA chief executive, previously said: "Increased case detection through focused contact tracing has led to more cases of the Omicron variant being identified and confirmed, as we have seen in other countries globally.
"We are continuing to monitor the data closely.
"Teams nationally and locally are working at pace to identify and trace all close contacts of every Omicron case.
"It is critical that anyone with Covid-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately."
Boris Johnson has already introduced his Plan B which is unpopular with many members of his own Conservative Party and those in the business community where Christmas is a key period of the year.
His government is considering tougher restrictions after it has emerged that the rapidly spreading Omicron variant makes up 30% of new Covid cases in London.
Ministers took part in a Cobra meeting on Friday where they looked at what steps can be taken to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, it is reported.
Communities Secretary Michael Grove, who himself has tested positive, said that London and Scotland were hotspots and the situation was “deeply concerning”.
The new data suggests that Omicron will now become dominant by as early as next week.
