The government is planning to put England into a circuit breaker lockdown to control the surge in omicron cases.
According to The Times, ministers have drawn up plans to introduce a two-week lockdown, with a string of new restrictions and rules in place.
This includes banning indoor mixing, and pubs and restaurants only being able to offer outdoor tables to punters.
Here are the potential new rules in full, as originally covered by Birmingham Live.
Indoor mixing banned
A massive blow to millions, indoor mixing could be banned under the proposals, according to a report in the Times.
This would mean families risk not seeing each other after Christmas.
It also raises questions over couples seeing each other if they live apart.
Pubs and restaurants outdoors only
In a massive, crushing development for the hospitality industry, they face havin to open outdoors only after Christmas.
The sector will be left gutted by the news, which could mean many city centre sites without outdoor spaces are simply unable to serve customers.
Rule of 6 outdoors to return
Another staggering blow to the hospitality sector, people could be forced to limit their contacts to six outdoors.
In January, given the weather, this is a far from ideal scenario for millions.
Schools and shops will remain open
Schools won't be affected by the lockdown, however, and should reopen as normal after Christmas.
Similarly, the retail sector won't be impacted either - with shops, both essential and non essential, allowed to keep operating.
It is believed the indoor mixing rules will still apply to shopping trips, though.
