WITH the first Omicron case in Teesside being confirmed last Friday and experts warning that the “mutant” strain could become the dominant strain by mid-December – these are the new measures the Government is introducing as of next week.

The UK Health Secretary Agency published data late last week stressing that double vaccination provided much lower levels of protection against the variant.

Read more: North East MP calls for 'better plan' to tackle Covid as Boris Johnson faces huge rebellion

However, the data also demonstrated that booster jabs provided around 70 per cent to 75 per cent protection against symptomatic infection.

Meanwhile Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison has urged the Government to come up with a “better plan” to tackle the Omicron Covid variant with Johnson facing what could prove to be the largest rebellion of his premiership.

More than 60 Conservative MPs said to be against the imposition of extra Covid measures after the Prime Minister announced on Wednesday he would be triggering his winter Plan B protocols in a bid to buy the UK time in the fight against the Omicron variant of the virus.

On Friday December 10, face coverings became compulsory in most public indoor venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship.

Read more: Omicron 'highly transmittable' variant confirmed on Teesside says new figures

Here are the new Covid rules coming into force next week:

  • Monday December 10: This who can will be advised to work from home
  • Wednesday December 15: The NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather, subject to parliamentary approval, this includes:
    • unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees.
    • Unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees.
    • any events with 10,000 or more attendees.
  • Lateral flow tests should be used before people enter “high-risk settings”, such as crowded places, the Government has said.
  • Self isolation rules could change for those who have come into contact with the Omicron variant. At the moment, 10 days of self-isolation is required, but this could be replaces by daily testing, however, a date for this has not been announced.
  • Pupils at secondary schools are strongly advised to wear face coverings in communal areas, as should staff and visitors at schools and childcare settings.
  • Anyone travelling to the UK has to take a PCR or lateral flow test no more than 48 hours before their departure, and a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival in the UK and self-isolating until they receive a negative result.
  • Social distancing of 1m plus remains in places including hospitals and passport control.
  • Anyone with Covid symptoms or who tests positive, must self-isolate

Yesterday health officials announced that douuble jabbed people who may have come into contact with someone with Covid-19 in England will be told to take a daily rapid test for seven days from Tuesday.

Unvaccinated adults are not eligible for this new daily testing policy and they must self-isolate for 10 days if they are a contact of someone who tests positive.

The daily testing aims to reduce pressures on people’s everyday lives by replacing the requirement for Omicron contacts to isolate for 10 days, the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) said.

The policy also aims to protect the public by identifying asymptomatic cases and stopping the chains of transmission.

The Omicron variant is quickly gaining ground in the UK and is expected to become the dominant strain by mid-December

Health Secretary Sajid David

 

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