Boris Johnson will lead a Downing Street press conference at 4pm today after new measures came in force to tackle the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
The Prime Minister will address the nation later on the new rules that came into place today, which include making face coverings on public transport and in shops mandatory again.
The briefing will come after 14 cases of the new variant were detected in the UK and Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned that this could 'rise over the coming days'.
Mr Johnson is also expected to address the government's new drive for all adults to take up the booster jab.
He will be joined by Health Secretary Sajid Javid and NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard.
READ MORE: Coronavirus LIVE updates across Greater Manchester as new rules comes into force
Earlier today, he defended England’s new coronavirus rules, which also include stricter restrictions.
“The measures taking effect today are proportionate and responsible, and will buy us time in the face of this new (Omicron) variant,” he said.
“Vaccines and boosters remain our best line of defence, so it is more important than ever that people come forward when eligible to get boosted.”
The Prime Minister is also expected to be quizzed on whether Christmas will be restriction-free this year, after Health minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News this morning that government is 'very much hoping that we can keep Christmas on track'.
She said the position this year was much different due to the vaccine rollout.
She said: "Of course Christmas is on track, and actually what everybody wants for Christmas is if you haven’t had your first jab, come and get it, if you haven’t had your second jab, come and get it, and if you haven’t had your booster, come and get it when you’re asked."
Ms Keegan added that the chances of having to isolate over Christmas were 'pretty low'.
Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said there is currently period 'of great uncertainty' in understanding the new Omicron variant.
She told BBC Breakfast the booster dose of vaccine will 'we hope, to some extent, counter the potential drop in vaccine effectiveness we might find with this variant'.
The time of the press conference later today has not yet been confirmed.
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