“It has become increasingly clear that Omikron is spreading much faster than the Delta variant,” said the conservative head of government on Wednesday at a short-term press conference in London’s Downing Street. In Great Britain, according to Johnson, 568 omicron cases have already been confirmed by genome sequencing.
The measures include the request to work from home, a mask requirement for theaters and other events as well as the obligation to present proof of immunity or a negative test result when entering major events and nightclubs. The regulations are to come into force gradually in the course of the coming week.
Johnson actually wanted to avoid a return to corona measures after their almost complete lifting on “Freedom Day” on July 19. The Tory politician had always described the gradual easing as “cautious but irreversible”. However, he later created a back door for himself with Plan B.
The government had already taken smaller steps such as the reintroduction of a mask requirement in shops and public transport. However, there was considerable opposition from Johnson’s Conservative Party to tougher measures.
The introduction of Plan B now comes at a sensitive time. Johnson’s credibility is being challenged more than usual over reports of an employee Christmas party during the lockdown last year at the government headquarters on Downing Street. There are therefore doubts as to whether there is still sufficient willingness among the population to obey the instructions of the government.
Source: Nachrichten
