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Will there be another lockdown after Christmas? Reports of two-week 'circuit breaker'

Will there be another lockdown after Christmas Reports of twoweek circuit breaker
The government is hoping to avoid another winter lockdown by relying on the Covid booster vaccine programme

The government is hoping to avoid another winter lockdown by relying on the Covid booster vaccine programme

Advisors to the Government are reportedly drawing up plans for a two-week “circuit breaker” lockdown after Christmas which would include a ban on indoor mixing.

According to The Times, draft regulations are being prepared which would ban meeting others indoors except for work purposes, and that pubs and restaurants would be limited to outdoor service only.

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Meanwhile, The Financial Times reported that Boris Johnson has been presented with a number of options under Plan C, ranging from "mild guidance to nudge people, right through to lockdown".

The call to be cautious comes following the reintroduction of some Covid restrictions in England in response to the Omicron variant, which has now surpassed more than 5,000 cases in the UK.

The government has insisted another lockdown this winter would be a “last resort” (Photo: Getty Image)The government has insisted another lockdown this winter would be a “last resort” (Photo: Getty Image)
The government has insisted another lockdown this winter would be a “last resort” (Photo: Getty Image)

Face masks are now mandatory in all indoor venues in England, in line with guidance already in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, self isolation rules have been tightened and people are once again being advised to work from home.

The government’s Plan B also passed in Parliament last week, meaning Covid passes are required in England to enter nightclubs and other large venues.

The government said the newly introduced measures are temporary and precautionary, and are expected to be reviewed in early January.

(Graphic: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)(Graphic: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)
(Graphic: Mark Hall / JPIMedia)
What is the Covid winter plan?

The government originally planned to follow Plan A which meant no additional restrictions would be reintroduced over the winter.

Instead, this plan relied on the success of the booster vaccine rollout and encouraging those who have not yet any doses to come forward for a jab.

However, in light of the Omicron outbreak the government has implemented its winter Plan B.

This has seen the return of guidance to work from home, mandatory face masks in most indoor venues, stricter self isolation rules and the introduction of Covid passes for nightclubs and large venues.

These include unseated venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue hosting more than 10,000 people.

People are now required to show proof of their vaccination status on entry, or proof of a recent negative Covid test.

While no limits have been imposed on social contact in England, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has asked people to only meet with two other households either side of Christmas, while care home residents can only have visitors from two households, who will need to be tested before entry.

Read MoreCould there be another lockdown?

The government has described its Plan B measures as both temporary and precautionary, and it is hoped the restrictions coupled with the accelerated booster vaccine rollout will avoid further measures being needed.

But while ministers have said they expect the Plan B to be “sufficient”, there has been no guarantee that another lockdown is completely off the table.

Now there are reports that a lockdown is being seriously considered in Downing Street, to limit the rapid spread of Omicron.

Leaked minutes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), seen by the BBC, reportedly said scientists had told ministers that tougher measures need to be brought in "very soon".

Officials have apparently recommended moving to restrictions seen in step one and two of the easing of lockdown in the spring. This included a ban on indoor mixing and indoor hospitality. They also reportedly warned against delaying further interventions until next year.

Another national lockdown would require fresh legislation to introduce it.

Under a six-monthly review of the Coronavirus Act, the government has promised to scrap a number of its powers, including the ability to shut down entire sectors of the economy, temporarily shut schools, and ban social gatherings.

Some of the only legal powers remaining to ministers include the ability to require people to self-isolate, the power to allow local authorities to respond to an imminent threat to public health and the power to provide financial support to those forced to quarantine.

Mr Javid has not yet ruled out any future lockdown, but insisted putting the “booster programme on steroids” is the main form of defence against Covid.

He told MPs the new Omicron variant “may have given the virus extra legs” in the race between the disease and vaccines, but he is “confident” that the responses he has just set out are “balanced and responsible steps that are proportionate to the threat that we face”.

Mr Javid told the Commons: “If it emerges that this variant is no more dangerous than the Delta variant, then we won’t keep measures in place for a day longer than necessary.

“We always knew there would be bumps in the road, but this is not a time to waver, it’s a time to be vigilant and to think about what each and every one one of us can do to slow the spread of this new variant.”

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