The Government is 'nowhere near' considering reintroducing stringent Covid regulations like working from home and social distancing, the health secretary has said.
Speaking today (November 28) after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the wearing of face masks in shops and on public transport would become compulsory this week, Sajid Javid also said people should plan for Christmas as 'normal'.
And he said he hoped the new rules would only be 'temporary', saying he believed people would 'take this more seriously'.
New measures on people coming into the country isolating were also announced on Saturday to combat the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.
Face coverings would be mandatory again in shops and on public transport in England from Tursday (November 30).
Anyone entering the UK will be required to take a PCR test by the end of the second day of their arrival - and must self-isolate until they have a negative result.
In addition, all contacts of those who test positive with a suspected case of the Omicron variant must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
The announcements follow the first cases of the variant being identified in the UK.
Mr Javid gave further details today on when the changes would come into force.
Speaking on Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday, he said the face mask rules were 'planned to come in on Tuesday'.
The health secretary said 'we're nowhere near' reintroducing working from home or social distancing.
He said: "We know now those types of measures do carry a very heavy price, both economically, socially, in terms of non-Covid health outcomes such as impact on mental health.
"So, if one was to make decisions like that they would have to be done very, very carefully and we're not there yet, we're nowhere near that.
"I think it’s fair to say that the nature of this pandemic is it would be irresponsible to make guarantees.
"As for Christmas, I think people should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it’s going to be a great Christmas.”
"The red listing has already happened, the face mask rules are planned to come in on Tuesday, the measures around the border, we've always rightly taken a four-nation approach across the UK, and so w'’re working with our partners in the UK and we’ll bring them in as soon as possible."
The health secretary said he hoped the extra measures would 'temporary', adding he thinks people will 'take this more seriously'.
"Doing it in this proportionate way where it’s for public transport, it’s for retail outlets, I think is the right level of response on masks.
"It will be via Government regulation and that means, I think, that people will take it seriously."
"It's important, I think, to act in a proportionate way and also in a temporary way.
"I hope this is something that we can remove within weeks.
"But I do think in terms of making progress, we want life to go back towards normal, but at this point in time, given what we know about this variant, and the expert advice that has been received, I think it is right to take some proportionate and balanced action."
Hospitality will be exempt from mask wearing.
