Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he addresses in front of the country to provide updates on the COVID-19 booster vaccine program in Downing Street, London, Britain on December 12, 2021.
Kirsty O’Connor | Reuters
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday said he would not introduce new Covid-19 restrictions in Britain before Christmas, but the situation remains extremely difficult and the government may need to act after that.
Britain reported record levels of Covid-19 cases over the past week as the highly contagious variant of Omicron spreads and hospitalizations are on the rise.
Johnson held a more than two-hour meeting with his cabinet to discuss the latest Covid-19 data on Monday. The media reported some ministers were against the prospect of new curbs before Christmas, despite warnings from some scientists.
“We don’t think there is enough evidence today to justify any tough measures before Christmas,” Johnson said in a video posted on social media.
There is still uncertainty about the likelihood that people will need hospital treatment after being infected with Omicron, compared with earlier variants, as well as the impact of booster doses of the vaccine, which is being rolled out rapidly.
Johnson added: “We cannot rule out any further measures after Christmas. “We continue to monitor Omicron very closely and if the situation worsens we will be ready to act if needed.”
The idea of further restrictions is unpopular with Conservative lawmakers, more than 100 of whom last week voted against introducing new Covid-19 rules, leaving Johnson reliant on support of the opposition Labor Party.
British media had previously reported that temporary curbs, lasting from two weeks to a month, were likely to be put into use in the UK after Christmas. These could include a ban on households mixing indoors and a limit on the number of people who can meet outdoors.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced plans to restrict post-Christmas restrictions on large-scale events in Scotland, including the cancellation of public New Year’s Eve celebrations, as well as limited table service bars and restaurants.
Johnson says that while people can plan their Christmas, he encourages them to exercise caution and follow advice such as keeping windows open and getting tested before visiting elderly relatives or vulnerable.
