A top scientist has urged the Government to do more to tackle the Omicron variant's spread and protect children.
Dr Zubaida Haque, a member of Indie Sage (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), has said measures due to kick in tomorrow don't go far enough when it comes to slowing the mutant variant.
The former director of the Runnymede Trust has warned that children are the biggest unprotected group and should be better shielded ahead of Christmas.
The introduction of so-called Plan B is staggered, with face mask rules kicking in tomorrow, a working from home order on Monday and vaccine passport requirements from Wednesday.
Dr Haque said rules around face masks made little sense and should be required in more indoor spaces.
"Indi Sage have been asking the Government this for several weeks now," she told Sky News of the Plan B rules.
"We've reached over 50,000 (cases a day) a couple of times since the start of school term. It is not too soon, it's a good time to introduce it, but it doesn't go far enough."
Dr Haque continued: "What we need to understand is we are facing an extremely transmissible variant. The Omicron variant is doubling every two and a half days.
"The biggest unprotected group right now are children, and yet they're not vaccinated, there are no mitigations in school, the Government have not come up with a single measure to protect children in school.
"We would be asking for face masks in classrooms, the Government to improve ventilation over Christmas, the reintroduction of bubbles, and fewer parties in schools.
"The Government is talking about face masks, in some places like theatres but not in restaurants. It doesn't work.
"The virus doesn't know when to stop and when to carry on. We need comprehensive, good information about face masks from the Government and comprehensive coverage."
Dr Haque praised the Government for re-introducing the work for home mandate as of Monday, but said it sent a mixed message.
"At the same time they have said go ahead and carry on partying," she continued.
"That is an extremely confusing and dangerous message to send to the public."
The scientist went on to criticise Downing Street for not requiring people to self-isolate if they test positive.
She urged Brits to keep themselves as safe as possible by wearing high-quality face masks, limiting socialising and having smaller gatherings.
Dr Haque is not the only expert to find fault with the Government's latest coronavirus plan.
Professor Andrew Hayward, a member of No10's own Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has warned that we 'need much more severe restrictions to turn it around'.
He told Sky News the "virus is moving very fast so it's important that we react to that fast".
He added: "It's a bit like if you think of a month's worth of rain falling in a few days, that leads to flooding and it's a similar type of scenario... we can reduce that by reducing social mixing and allow time to slow the virus down and get vaccine into more people's arms."
Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist based at the University of East Anglia, said Plan B was not enough to control Omicron.
"I am quite pessimistic that we could control the spread of omicron at present," he told Mail Online.
"But I am hopeful that because we have both high vaccine coverage and high prior infection and because we are rolling out the booster dose better than virtually anywhere else we can at least manage the impact of the increase in omicron.
"I think plan B would be enough to push R below 1.0 for most delta, though uncertain it would stop AY.4.2 — Delta plus."
The new regulations will be put to a debate and vote in the Commons next week and with Labour's support they are certain to be approved, despite the prospect of a large Conservative revolt.
Plan B is also facing criticism from those who believe it is too restrictive.
Tory MP Marcus Fysh described plans to bring in Covid health certificates as "really draconian" and an "utter disgrace".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that vaccine passports are "a massive imposition on our liberties".
He added: "It's a disgrace that they're pursuing that, utter disgrace."
He accused Government scientific advisers and England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty of having a "history of over-egging the data and picking data points out that suit their narrative".
However, the Yeovil MP also suggested Omicron was proven to produce milder cases than Delta - a claim not backed by scientists.
