UK announces new restrictions to curb spread of Omicron variant

The UK will bring back masks and has made changes to international travel as the world grapples with a new highly contagious variant of Covid-19.

Face mask restrictions are set to return in shops and on public transport in England as fears over the mutant Omicron Covid-19 variant grow.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the added restrictions overnight after two cases of the dreaded super-spreading strain were reported in Essex, near London, and Nottingham in the English Midlands.

The two cases – which are currently isolating – are said to be linked to travel in South Africa.

But Mr Johnson said tighter border controls would only go so far to quell the variant’s spread in Britain, adding “proportionate and targeted measures” were now needed.

He told a news briefing that it was crucial to “slow down” the spread of the variant in the UK.

“In addition to the measures we are already taking, we will require all contacts of those who test positive with a suspected case of Omicron to self-isolate for 10 days regardless of your vaccination status,” he said.

The UK will have a string of new restrictions to combat the spread of Omicron. Picture: Hollie Adams – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“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.”

Earlier on Saturday, Britain announced tougher entry rules for all arriving passengers.

Mr Johnson reintroduction of face masks in shops and on public transport comes after controversially ditching the mandate in July when he reopened the UK economy after a prior nationwide lockdown.

He signalled no new lockdown now, vowing a review of the new measures in three weeks and expressing hope that Britons could look forward to a more festive Christmas than last year.

“But we now need to go further and implement a proportionate testing regimen for arrivals from across the whole world,” Mr Johnson told the hastily arranged news conference, hours after the government confirmed the first two Omicron cases.

“So we are 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,” he said.

Currently, all Britons and foreigners entering the UK are required to take a PCR test on day two after their arrival.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced masks are back. Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images.

The new rules add the requirement for isolation pending a negative result, significantly toughening the regimen, in a bid to curb the spread of the new strain.

“I very much hope that we will find that we continue to be in a strong position and we can lift these measures again,” Mr Johnson said. “But right now this is a responsible course of action.” Downing Street said the new testing regimen and masks mandate would enter into force “next week”, along with a requirement for all contacts of suspected Omicron cases to self-isolate, regardless of their vaccination status.

Effective early Sunday UK time, the government said it was placing another four African countries on its travel ban — being Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola.

Britain has already said it is banning travel from six southern African nations because of the emergence of Omicron: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

“After overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that two cases of Covid-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 (Omicron) have been identified in the UK,” a government statement said.

“The two cases are linked and there is a link to travel to southern Africa,” it said.

One case was detected in the central English city of Nottingham, and the other in Chelmsford east of London, officials said.

After promising no more mask rules, masks are back. Picture: Hollie Adams / POOL / AFP.

“We have moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is ongoing,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.

The government was widely criticised for its travel and quarantine policy earlier in the pandemic, when it kept borders open to foreign travellers even as infection rates spiralled.

“This is a stark reminder that we are not yet out of this pandemic,” Mr Javid said, urging the public to get follow-up booster jabs of vaccines.

Mr Johnson said he planned to expand the program for booster vaccine shots, with the hope that government scientists will agree a government request to shorten the time-frame between second and third jabs, which is currently set at six months.

“It’s more vital than ever that people get their jabs, and we get those boosters into arms as fast as possible,” the prime minister said.

Australia too has announced new travel rules “effective immediately” following the identification of the concerning new covid variant of concern.

Travellers will have new restrictions entering the UK. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP.

Australia will close its borders immediately to nine African nations. In addition, Australians who have been to, or are due to arrive in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique within the last 14 days will be ordered into immediate supervised quarantine.

In addition, non citizens who have been in those nine countries in the past 14 days will not be able to enter Australia.

New South Wales and Victoria both moved on Saturday night to introduce 72-hour isolation requirements for all vaccinated international arrivals, regardless of their departure destination.

The report suggests several state and territory leaders expressed “significant concerns” about recently reopened international borders suggesting it left the country exposed to the new variant.

Since early November, NSW and Victoria have allowed vaccinated international arrivals into both states without needing to enter home or hotel quarantine.

But on Saturday evening, both states as well as the ACT announced that all travellers who have been in any other overseas country during the 14-day period before their arrival in the state must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours, pending further health advice.

– with The Sun