Boris Johnson has announced that people will be asked to work from home as new 'Plan B' measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant come in.
The prime minister told a Downing Street press conference this evening that it had become "increasingly clear that Omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant and is spreading rapidly all around the world".
He said moving to Plan B was "proportionate and the responsible thing" amid uncertainty around whether the new variant causes a more severe form of Covid-19.
“We can’t yet assume that Omicron is less severe than previous variants," he said, explaining that the doubling time of Omicron is likely to be between two and three days.
“So while the picture may get better, and I sincerely hope that it will, we know that the remorseless logic of exponential growth could lead to a big rise in hospitalisations and therefore, sadly, in deaths."
Mr Johnson confirmed that a return to home working would be one of the measures introduced, along with further mandates on mask wearing and the introduction of vaccine passports in certain venues.
Announcing the new measures, he said: "We will introduce the guidance to work from home.
"Employers should use the rest of the week to discuss working arrangements with employees."
Mr Johnson said the working from home guidance would be implemented from Monday, December 13.
"You should work from if you can," he told the press briefing. "Go to work if you must, but work from home if you can."
He said reducing contacts in the workplace "will help slow transmission" of coronavirus.
The government has been encouraging a gradual return to the office for workers following Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown back in July.
Employers had been encouraged to follow safety guidance on how to make workplaces Covid safe, for example with social distancing and ventilation.
The prime minister did not say how long the working from home guidance would be in place this time around.
He said the government will "constantly monitor the data and keep it under review".
Mr Johnson encouraged people to get their vaccinations.
"If, and indeed as soon as, it becomes clear that the boosters are capable of holding this Omicron variant and we have boosted enough people to do that job, then we will be able to move forward as before," he told the press conference.
