The British government will not introduce new Covid-19 restrictions for England before the end of 2021, its health minister Sajid Javid said today.
Partial figures reported by the government today showed 98,515 new cases of Covid-19, but once data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is factored in, it is likely to show cases remain only slightly below a 24 December peak of 122,186.
Nevertheless, Mr Javid said ministers would not be taking any new steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the coming days.
"There will be no further measures before the new year," Mr Javid told reporters. "When we get into the new year, of course we will see then whether we do need to take any further measures."
He said that the highly-transmissible Omicron variant of the virus now accounted for around 90% of cases across England and urged people to celebrate New Year cautiously.
The government's attention is focused on the number of patients being hospitalised with Omicron after early data last week suggested the variant carried a reduced risk of admission.
Britain has reported a total of 148,003 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, and 12.2 million positive tests during the pandemic so far.
Incomplete data was also published for 25 December showing 113,628 infections and 26 December, showing 108,893 infections.
Scotland begins new restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19
Restrictions on hospitality have come into force in Scotland in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Nightclubs will be closed and hospitality businesses must return to offering only table service if serving alcohol.
Bars, restaurants and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms, theatres and museums will also have to reinstate one-metre social distancing regulations.
The restrictions come after caps were placed on large events from yesterday.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that only 100 people would be able to attend a standing indoor event and 200 seated.
Outdoor events will also be restricted to 500 people, which has hit football games the hardest.
According to the Scottish government, the restrictions will be reviewed every three weeks.
The last available figures released by the Scottish government show 7,076 new cases of Covid-19 reported on Christmas Eve, with ten deaths and a positivity rate of over 14.5%.
A total of 6,154 cases of the new variant were also reported on Friday, up 3,832 from the previous day, which was due to a backlog in laboratory testing.
New Covid restrictions introduced in Northern Ireland
New coronavirus restrictions were also introduced in Northern Ireland to try to combat rising Covid cases, as indoor standing events will no longer be permitted and nightclubs are closed.
A two-metre social distancing rule will be in place in public premises and offices and only table service will be available in bars and restaurants.
Socialising will be reduced to three households while up to six people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants.
Ten people will be allowed if they are from the same household.
In the week to Christmas Eve, Northern Ireland reported 17,861 new Covid infections and 18 deaths.
It is a 55% increase in positive cases compared to the same period last month, when there were 11,499 cases but more deaths, with 37 coronavirus-related fatalities.
Additional reporting Reuters
