Government announces new coronavirus restrictions for England

Working from home guidance, vaccine passports for nightclubs and events and further rules on masks are to be introduced in England to combat the spread of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, prime minister Boris Johnson said the government will use measures from its Plan B for dealing with the pandemic.

From Monday 13 December, people will be asked to work from home if they can.

Face coverings are currently required in retail businesses and on public transport, and from Friday 10 December, they will also be mandatory in most other public indoor venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship. The rules will not apply in hospitality settings.

From Wednesday 15 December, vaccine passports will be required for entry to nightclubs and events with large crowds. This includes unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees. Proof of two vaccinations or a negative lateral flow test will be required.

"It has become increasingly clear that the Omicron variant is spreading much faster than the Delta variant and it is spreading rapidly around the world," Johnson said. "There's evidence that the doubling rate of Omicron in the UK could be between two and three days."