Government implements measures against the new COVID-19 variant

Targeted measures to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant take effect Tuesday, 30 November 2021.

From Tuesday, face coverings will be compulsory in shops and other settings such as banks, post offices and hairdressers, as well as on public transport unless individuals are exempt from doing so. However, masks won’t be compulsory in all hospitality settings.

Furthermore, all international travellers arriving into the country will be required to take a PCR test on or before day 2 and self-isolate until they have received a negative test result. All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate, regardless of their age or vaccination status.

The government have introduced these measures as a precaution while more information is gathered and assessed on the new Omicron variant transmissibility and its effect on the vaccines. The measures are temporary and precautionary and will be reviewed in three weeks. The regulations will be kept under review to ensure they only remain necessary and proportionate.

You can also download our face covering poster here to help inform your costumers on the new measures. Please send an email to veronique@youractonbid.co.uk if you would like a printed version. 

For more information, please view the government’s press release here.