Prime Minister Boris Johnson said introducing new coronavirus restrictions is a “proportionate and responsible” reaction to the spread of the Omicron variant.
England’s new measures will include the wider wearing of face masks, a return to working from home, and the mandatory use of Covid passes for access to large venues.
From Friday December 10, face coverings will become compulsory in most public indoor venues, including cinemas, theatres and places of worship, but not gyms, bars or restaurants.
Masks are already required on public transport and in shops.
From Monday, December 13, those who can work from home are advised to do so. But the Prime Minister said Christmas parties and school nativity plays should still go ahead.
From Wednesday December 15, the NHS Covid Pass, on the NHS app, will become mandatory for entry into clubs and other large gatherings – classed as indoor events with 500 or more people, unseated outdoor events with more than 4,000, and any event with a crowd of more than 10,000.
For those without the app proof of a negative test through a text message or email from the NHS would be sufficient.
Venues which fail to comply with the regulations could face fines of up to £10,000.
With that in mind, Boots has released details of the tests it offers including for travel and use at home.
There's a variety of options available to buy including test at home PCR kits which come with negative result certificates provided.
Costs for the tests range from £30 to £136
There has been fury on the Tory benches over the curbs on freedoms, with Covid Recovery Group leader Mark Harper warning there is no “credible exit strategy” from the new rules and that vaccine passports are “pointless and damaging”.
Former chief whip Mr Harper suggested Mr Johnson’s authority has been diminished by the Owen Paterson sleaze row and the alleged Downing Street party, saying: “Why should people listen to the Prime Minister’s instructions to follow the rules when people inside Number 10 Downing Street don’t do so?”
The Government hopes the measures will slow the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in order to buy time for the vaccine booster programme to bolster defences against Covid-19.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) from University College London, said “more social distancing, not going to work if you don’t have to, not going on public transport to go to work when you don’t have to, will make a difference”.
“I think it’s very difficult to predict whether that’s going to be enough, but I think it’s an essential first move,” he told Sky News.
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