London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Aug 24, 2025

UK unveils new mask mandate and Covid testing rules, citing Omicron

UK unveils new mask mandate and Covid testing rules, citing Omicron

The UK has announced new Covid-19 restrictions in light of the Omicron variant, including the introduction of masks in public spaces, and the testing of all people arriving in the country regardless of their vaccination status.
The new “temporary” restrictions in response to the Omicron variant cases were announced by the UK government late on Sunday. The measures include mandatory PCR testing for all international arrivals, regardless of their vaccination status, as well as self-isolation for all contacts of suspected Omicron cases whether fully vaccinated or not.

The government also announced a new mask mandate, making face coverings compulsory in certain public spaces. In effect, the mandate changes only the rules for England, since Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already have indoor mask requirements in place.

“Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from next week. All hospitality settings will be exempt,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said in a statement.

Britain said it would be convening an urgent meeting of G7 health ministers on Monday to assess the Omicron situation. So far, three cases of the new strain have been detected in the UK.

“Under the UK presidency, an urgent meeting of G7 health ministers will also be convened on Monday 29 November to discuss the developments on Omicron,” the department of Health and Social Care said.

The Omicron variant, first detected in Botswana earlier this month, became the dominant strain in southern Africa and, in recent days, has been detected in countries right across the world. While all 27 EU member states, the US, the UK, Russia and other nations have taken steps to restrict travel from the affected region this week, the World Health Organization has called for borders to remain open so as not to place a “heavy burden on lives and livelihoods” in Africa.

South Africa has pleaded with governments to urgently cancel their travel restrictions, with several of its senior health officials describing the Omicron symptoms they have observed as “very mild.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
William and Kate Are Moving House – and the New Neighbors Were Evicted
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
Taylor Swift on the Way to the Super Bowl? All the Clues Stirring Up Fans
×