On the 8 December the Prime Minister confirmed that England will move to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK.

The main changes announced include:

  • face coverings will become compulsory in most public indoor venues, with some exemptions for places like hospitality venues where it is not practical to wear one 
  • from Monday 13 December, those who can are advised to work from home
  • from Wednesday 15 December, an NHS Covid Pass will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather

These restrictions are planned to last for six weeks, with a review after three. There are no significant changes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Implications for practice

Across the four nations, the latest COVID-19 guidance allows you to work face to face with clients in business premises - providing they are COVID-secure and risk mitigation measures are rigorously employed.

If you usually work from home then, you can work face to face from a private dwelling providing that:

  • you have appropriate insurance
  • your premises are COVID-secure
  • you've undertaken a risk assessment
  • you follow the isolation or testing rules after infection or close contact with an infected person

Employers, educational settings and other sites remain free to interpret the guidance as they see fit and implement any measures they feel appropriate to local circumstances.

You can read our updated guidance in Working within the restrictions and find other resources from the links below.

Or you can find out more about the full changes and latest guidance on gov.uk.

Find out more...