The Daily Mail has reported that the UK government, under Boris Johnson, is poised to introduce new Covid restrictions within 48 hours, potentially including limits on indoor household mixing and enforcing the rule of six. If implemented, this would require the Prime Minister to convene Parliament, a process that typically takes around two days.

Although on December 20, Mr. Johnson ruled out immediate imposition of new Covid restrictions, he acknowledged that the government remains open to the possibility of further measures to safeguard public health amidst the spread of the Omicron variant.

A ‘circuit breaker’ is a term used to describe a brief lockdown aimed at managing spikes in Covid infections. This could entail reinstating restrictions like banning indoor household mixing and limiting outdoor gatherings to the Rule of Six. The closure of non-essential shops may also be considered, but no official confirmation has been given.

The duration of a circuit breaker is expected to be shorter compared to the prolonged lockdowns experienced in 2020, lasting between two weeks to a month. Consequently, individuals in the UK may need to reconsider their New Year’s Eve plans. As of December 22, over 30 million additional Covid-19 vaccine doses had been administered in the UK, with 90,629 positive Covid-19 tests reported on December 20.