At 6pm on 8 December, the Prime Minister announced that government will be moving to Plan B in response to the spread of the Omicron variant, this includes the following measures:
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From Monday 13 December, those who can will be advised to work from home.
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From Friday 10 December, the government will extend the legal requirement to wear a face mask to most public indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas. There will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear one, such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising.
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From Wednesday 15 December, and subject to parliamentary approval, the NHS COVID Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather- including unseated indoor events with 500 attendees or more, unseated outdoor venues with 4,000 attendees or more, and any event with 10,000 attendees and more. Proof of two vaccine doses or a negative lateral flow test will be accepted.
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The government also intends to introduce daily contact tests for contacts of confirmed positive Omicron cases instead of the ten-day self-isolation period.
The Prime Minister’s full statement can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-opening-statement-at-covid-19-press-conference-8-december-2021
