UK considers imposing Omicron circuit breaker lockdown amid rising concerns of COVID

UK government officials are discussing prospects of 'two-week circuit-breaker' lockdown that include a ban on indoor mixing to curb ravaging wave of coronavirus from Omicron variant during Christmas. stringent clampdown will restrict indoor meetings from different households, except for important and work purposes, and will limit public venues from servicing indoor. pubs and restaurants will be allowed to cater outdoor only. 

decision will be taken in a Cobra meeting set to be held over weekend. Times, UK reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was given several options including  so-called plan C that involves a transition from "mild guidance to nudge people, right through to lockdown” as COVID-19 situation slips out of control for UK. 

"circuit breaker” lockdown may be most likely imposed across UK as Scientific visory Group for Emergencies [SAGE] reportedly told UK government that "more stringent" measures will be needed "very soon" in order to protect NHS as Omicron is set to become dominant strain. Even as British Prime Minister resisted calls to tighten restrictions in past after most rules were eased after Delta strain wave, his scientific visers are now pressurizing him to enter lockdown in order to keep hospital missions low and avert burden on NHS. 

daily coronavirus cases shot past 90,000 for second day in UK, driven by highly mutated and transmissible B.1.1.529 variant of concern. At least 7 Omicron deaths have also been reported. UK recorded a whopping 10,059 infections in a matter of 24 hours that pushed country’s confirmed Omicron cases to 24,968. A major incident was declared by London mayor owing to rising trajectory, as city registered highest ever daily increase of coronavirus cases on Dec. 18. 

Lockdown timing 'crucial', hospitalizations expected to rise: Johson's medical visors

UK Prime Minister’s medical visors have warned that hospitalizations are expected to shoot and will soon reach at least 3,000 a day. "If aim is to reduce levels of infection in population and prevent hospitalisations reaching se levels, more stringent measures would need to be implemented very soon," ITV quoted medical visors as saying. ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown will include strict clampdowns on nonessential movement, including  "reducing group sizes, increasing physical distancing, reducing duration of contacts, and closing high-risk premises,” network confirmed. 

se restrictions will be same as Step Two protocols that were lifted in mid-January.  A lockdown will be implemented in UK before new year, as SAGE scientist has stressed that delay would be too late, sources told BBC. Any delay in introducing stricter measures until 2022 would "greatly reduce effectiveness of such interventions and make it is less likely that se would prevent considerable pressure on health and care settings,” BBC quoted SAGE visors as saying. y also emphasized that timing of this lockdown "is crucial".