The health minister has said the government 'will not hesitate' to take further measures to tackle of the spread of Covid 'if it's required to keep people safe'.
Gillian Keegan said the government is 'watching the data very, very carefully' as the Omicron strain continues to spread.
She did not rule out a 'circuit-breaker' after Christmas, after Boris Johnson reassured the public that no further restrictions will be put in before December 25.
Asked on Sky News if tighter rules are a question of when and not if, Ms Keegan said: "We’ve said we have to keep that option open because you know we are looking at cases that are going up at the moment and we are looking at hospitalisation, which is going up."
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She added: "We do have to reserve that option and we won’t hesitate … if it’s required to keep people safe.
"But right now the balanced and proportionate response is, we believe, the one that we’ve put in place."
When asked whether there is any chance that a circuit-breaker will not happen, Ms Keegan said the government were still waiting for the data.
She said: "We’ll still have to wait to see where we land on that, but we can’t really say, you know.
“What we’ve said is up to Christmas we’re fine looking at the data, looking at the numbers we have at the moment, but, of course, we have to look at where this virus goes, where this variant goes, so we have to look at that data.
“I can’t tell you in advance of getting that data, but you should be cheerful because we’re doing a lot more than we could last year.
"We’re able to see our families.”
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Asked whether Omicron cases have plateaued, Ms Keegan said 'we don't know yet'.
She said: "No, we haven’t been given that information, we are watching the data very, very carefully.”
The Prime Minister stressed yesterday that the situation remains 'finely balanced' as he reassured families that their festive plans could go ahead.
He urged people to exercise caution and to continue to follow the guidance, including by wearing a mask indoors when required, keeping fresh air circulating and taking a test when visiting vulnerable and elderly relatives.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also warned of 'hard weeks ahead', particularly for the NHS and health professionals as we move into the New Year.
He said: "After a very difficult year for the health system, the UK CMOs want to express our enduring thanks to, and great pride in, the health professions across the country.
"We face yet more hard weeks ahead. Look out for one another as we continue to care for the public."
