Boris Johnson has announced tonight that office workers must return to working from home from Monday.
The announcement comes after a concerning rise in the numbers of people who have tested positive for the newest and most contagious strain of coronavirus - The Omicron variant.
In a press conference from No 10 Downing Street, he said that the government will reintroduce the guidance to work from home.
READ MORE: Live as Boris Johnson to hold coronavirus press conference amid Plan B measures
He said: "Employers should use the rest of the week to discuss new arrangements with employees.
"From Monday you should work from home if you can. Go to work if you must, but work from home if you can.
"I know it will be hard for many people but by reducing your contact in the workplace you will help to slow transmission."
Boris Johnson added: "We can't yet assume that Omicron is less severe than previous variants.
"So while the picture may get better, and I sincerely hope that it will, we know that the remorseless logic of exponential growth could lead to a big rise in hospitalisations and therefore, sadly, in deaths.
"That's why it is now the proportionate and the responsible thing to move to Plan B in England while continuing to work closely with our colleagues in the devolved administrations, so we slow the spread of the virus, buy ourselves the time to get yet more boosters into arms, especially in the older and more vulnerable people."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.
