Covid: Ministers ‘drawing up Plan C’ of tighter restrictions to tackle Omicron

Ministers are drawing up proposals for a potential “Plan C” involving tighter restrictions to help slow the spread of the Omicron variant, according to reports.

It comes ahead of a return to working from home on Monday and mandatory Covid passports for large venues from Wednesday, as the Government’s Plan B comes into force.

There were a total of 817 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in the UK as of Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency said. Scientists believe the strain is more transmissible and partially resistant to vaccines.

Government officials are already said to be mulling tighter restrictions should Plan B fail to curb the spread of Omicron. These could include having to “check in” once again with the NHS Covid App when entering hospitality venues and wearing a mask in all indoor spaces, according to the Daily Mail.

Plan C would also see vaccine passports extended to a wider range of venues, the newspaper reported.

Boris Johnson is already facing a revolt from the Tory backbenches over Plan B regulations, which are set to be debated in the House of Commons next week.

In a sign of the anger on the Tory benches, MP Marcus Fysh described plans to bring in Covid health certificates as “really draconian” and an “utter disgrace”. Former minister Steve Baker, a prominent figure in the Covid Recovery Group of Conservatives, said it is “vital” the “maximum number of Conservative MPs vote against Plan B”.

The timing of the prime minister’s announcement of restrictions on Wednesday provoked suspicion among MPs, who suggested it could be a diversionary tactic to distract from ongoing scrutiny of alleged Christmas parties held by his Downing Street staff last year.

A senior Tory MP urged Mr Johnson to “get a grip” on matters following reports that Downing Street’s director of communications made a speech and handed out awards at the event, which is said to have taken place on December 18 2020.

ITV News reported on Thursday that Jack Doyle, who was then deputy director of communications at No 10, addressed up to 50 people at a Christmas gathering said to have been held on that date.

Meanwhile, a Sage expert said that Plan B restrictions were a “necessary evil” to keep the variant at bay.

Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told a Royal Society of Medicine briefing: “I think it’s a necessary evil … it’s very damaging for parts of the economy, the hospitality sector, retail sector in particular – they’re going to be affected.

“Unfortunately, we have to do it. The rate at which this virus is spreading is doubling every two or three days.”

The Plan B measures will be reviewed on January 5, before their expiry date of January 26.