Omicron: Tougher Covid restrictions will be imposed ‘if necessary’, No 10 says

‘We have an array of options available to us in terms of what measures we can take’

Tougher Covid restrictions will be imposed if the worst fears about the omicron variant are realised, No 10 says – but it declined to reveal what they will be.

Contingency plans, dubbed a ‘Plan C’, have been drawn up by officials which are thought to include the return of table service in pubs and mask-wearing in more settings, in England.

Downing Street said it is not “aware” of any document listing the stricter measures being considered, just days after Boris Johnson triggered his Plan B to counter fast-rising omicron cases.

But the prime minister’s spokesman said: “We need to keep the characteristics of this variant under review and we would act if necessary.

“We have an array, already, of options available to us in terms of what measures we can take to mitigate a growth of any variant or virus,” he said – arguing that is expected of “a responsible government”.

However, he added: “There are no plans to go beyond that currently.”

The comments came as the spokesman revealed No 10 has scrapped plans for a Christmas party – just days after Mr Johnson said staff parties should go ahead.

Downing Street remains rocked by evidence of “illegal” parties a year ago, but the spokesman said it was because of the increasing work on omicron and “the latest data that we’ve got”.

No “final decision has been taken on whether to introduce a three-visitor rule in care homes, another move being considered.

Meanwhile, Michael Gove, who remains in charge of intergovernmental relations, will chair a meeting of the emergency Cobr meeting later on Friday, to discuss the Covid situation.

The first ministers and deputy first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will take part.

The virtual confirmation of a Plan C comes despite the likelihood that Mr Johnson will be forced to rely on Labour votes to put his Christmas Covid restrictions into law.

Scores of Conservative MPs are poised to rebel, on Tuesday, over the introduction of Covid passes for crowded venues and the extension of mask-wearing to cinemas and theatres

It will be a further blow to the prime minister’s battered authority if the measures only get parliament’s backing thanks to Labour support.

Downing Street has also pledged the restrictions will be reviewed by 5 January at the latest – and earlier if at all possible.

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has raised the stakes by warning of a “tsunami of infections” from the spread of omicron, with Christmas parties now discouraged.

The variant is poised to “run riot” through the population, with infections set to surge to as many as 25,000 a day in a worst case scenario.