Three main actions:
- Anybody entering the UK will now need to do a PCR test & isolate.
- Face coverings now compulsory in shops & public transport (not hospitality).
- Vaccinations & boosters more crucial than ever. The JCVI are being asked to consider extending the booster programme (currently for over 40s).
The Prime Minister’s comments on the above:
We are not going to stop people travelling, I want to stress that, we’re not going to stop people travelling, but we will require anyone who enters the UK to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival, and to self-isolate until they have a negative result.
Second, we need to slow down the spread of this variant here in the UK.
Because measures at the border can only ever minimise and delay the arrival of a new variant, rather than stop it altogether.
So in addition to the measures we are already taking to locate those who have been in countries of concern over the last ten days, we will require all contacts of those who test positive - with a suspected case of Omicron - to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of your vaccination status.
We will also go further in asking all of you to help contain the spread of this variant, by tightening up the rules on face coverings in shops and on public transport.
And third - and most importantly - we need to bolster our protections against this new variant.
We don’t yet exactly know how effective our vaccines will be against Omicron, but we have good reasons for believing they will provide at least some measure of protection.
And if you are boosted – your response is likely to be stronger.
So it’s more vital than ever that people get their jabs, and we get those boosters into arms as fast as possible.
Full speech: https://www.gov.uk/.../pm-opening-statement-at-covid-19...