People have been venting their anger over the latest scandal to rock Downing Street - a Christmas party alleged to have taken place in number 10 when the UK was in lockdown last December.
A "boozy" party is alleged to have been at the government's HQ on December 18, 2020. Around 40 people are reported to have attended.
It caused fury from members of the public and uproar in the House of Commons, as some people who abided by restrictions were not able to visit dying relatives in hospital.
Amid the storm, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has introduced new restrictions to try and slow the spread of the latest strain of Covid-19, the Omicron variant.
The restrictions are known as 'Plan B' and people are also being encouraged to get their booster jab.
The scandal, along with the timing of the new announcement, has led to further worries about restrictions over Christmas and if traditional festive celebrations can go ahead So what can we do under Plan B?
Can I have a Christmas party?
Currently, under Plan B rules, people are now being advised to work from home from Monday, December 13. Despite this, it appears work Christmas parties can go ahead.
But keep in mind that Covid passes, known commonly as 'vaccine passports' will be required in nightclubs from December 15, as well as a host of other venues.
These are not required for any events taking place at home, so for now it does appear you can have a Christmas party with your loved ones.
In response to if Christmas parties should be cancelled, the PM said: "No, in my view they should not.
"They should follow the guidance, of course, but we are not saying we want kids to be taken out of school before the end of term – not that there is very long to go now – and we don’t want nativity plays to be cancelled.
"We think that it is okay currently, on what we can see, to keep going with Christmas parties."
What you can and can't do under Covid Plan B
Mandatory mask-wearing was extended to a range of other outlets, a full list of which can be seen here, but includes public transport, nail salons, post offices and places of worship.
Working from home is the other big development, while vaccine passports are required under the following conditions:
- Indoor, crowded settings with 500 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to be in close proximity to people from other households, such as music venues or large receptions.
- Outdoor, crowded settings with 4,000 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to be in close proximity to people from other households, such as outdoor festivals.
- Any settings with 10,000 or more attendees, such as large sports and music stadia.
The measures announced today will be reviewed on January 5, but can be expected to be gone by January 26, should they help slow the spread of the variant.
Christmas party rules in the UK following plan B announcement
If you want to go to a nightclub, you will need to get yourself an NHS Covid Pass. These are valid from 30 days on your NHS app and refresh every time you log in and you need to be fully vaccinated.
If you are not fully vaccinated for medical reasons, you can still apply for a pass.
The government explained: "You can apply for proof of evidence that you have a medical reason why you should not be vaccinated or tested.
"If you are eligible for proof of medical exemption, or a carer obtains this on your behalf, you will be able to use the domestic NHS Covid Pass wherever you need to prove your Covid status."
You can also get printed passes if you do not have an online presence.
At present, pubs and other hospitality places do not require people to wear masks, though this may change in the future, and may be a good place for a small get together.
