Return of Mandatory Masks: Boris Johnson Announces ‘Tighter Rules’ in Response to Omicron VariantVictoria Friedman 27 Nov 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reintroduced mandatory masks for shops and public transport in response to the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant, despite the requirements only being lifted in July.
On Wednesday, a new strain of coronavirus — B.1.1.529, dubbed ‘Omicron’ — was identified in southern Africa, prompting the United Kingdom on Friday to impose travel restrictions on those coming from several southern African countries and requiring arrivals to quarantine in hotels for ten days.
On Saturday, two cases on the Omicron variant were detected in the UK, in Essex in the southeast of England and in Nottinghamshire in central England. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the cases were linked to recent travel from southern Africa. Mr Javid had said yesterday that the Omicron strain “may be more transmissible” than the dominant delta variety, and there remained the possibility “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective” against it.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson held an impromptu press conference on Saturday at 5 pm, during which he used rather unclear language to announce a “tightening up” of the rules on mask-wearing in shops and on public transport — rules that were lifted in July, leaving unclear what there is to “tighten up”.
Mr Johnson told the press during his speech: “We will also be asking all of you to help contain the spread of this variant by tightening up the rules on face coverings in shops and on public transport.”
more
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2021/11/27/boris-johnson-covid-omicron-return-mask-mandates-shops-transport/
