Plans for a Post-Christmas ‘Circuit Breaker’ Lockdown Are in the Works

Recent reports have shown that Government officials and advisers are preparing to implement a two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown, which would be introduced shortly after Christmas. Under the proposed guidelines, the ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown will ban indoor mixing, forcing hospitality venues to seat customers in outdoor spaces only. The Independent has more.

Officials are drawing up plans for a two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown after Christmas, reports have suggested, including a ban on indoor mixing.

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

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Boris Johnson was presented with a number of options on Friday under a so-called ‘Plan C’, ranging from “mild guidance to nudge people, right through to lockdown”.

The newspaper quoted allies of the Prime Minister who claimed Johnson still wanted to go down the guidance route, but that he also had to be realistic about the threat of Omicron.

Leaked minutes from the SAGE, seen by the BBC, reportedly said scientists had told ministers that tougher measures need to be brought in “very soon”.

The BBC reported that the advisers had recommended moving to restrictions seen in step one and two of the easing of lockdown restrictions in the spring. These included a ban on indoor mixing and indoor hospitality. They also reportedly warned against delaying further interventions until 2022.

The U.K. reported more than 90,000 new Covid cases in another record daily total on Friday.

A Government Spokesperson said: “The Government will continue to look closely at all the emerging data and we’ll keep our measures under review as we learn more about this variant.”

Worth reading in full.