Sajid Javid has said people should carry on making Christmas plans as ‘normal’, despite the return of mask wearing rules in response to the emergence of the worrying new Omicron variant.
The Health Secretary said he hopes the extra measures, which will come into force on Tuesday, will be ‘temporary’.
He defended the decision not to go further by reintroducing working from home or social distancing measures, telling Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News ‘we are nowhere near that’.
Mr Javid said: ‘We know now those types of measures do carry a very heavy price, both economically, socially, in terms of non-Covid health outcomes such as impact on mental health.
‘So, if one was to make decisions like that they would have to be done very, very carefully and we’re not there yet, we’re nowhere near that.’
He said the Government’s ‘proportionate and balanced actions’ will buy scientists the ‘precious’ weeks they need to assess the new variant.
Asked about the festive season, he added: ‘I think people should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas.
‘I think it’s going to be a great Christmas.’
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