LONDON — People in England are being asked to work from home again if possible and face masks will be compulsory in most public places, as part of new rules to limit the spread of Omicron, BBC reports.

Covid passes will also be needed to get into nightclubs and large venues from next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the government was moving to its backup plan of extra Covid rules at a news conference.

"It's not a lockdown, it's Plan B," he said.

He said moving to the tougher measures was the "proportionate and responsible" thing to do.

Johnson said more is still being learned about new variant Omicron and the picture might get better, but that it "could lead to a big rise in hospitalizations and therefore sadly in deaths".

He said the new variant was "growing much faster" than Delta and early analysis suggested cases could be doubling every 2.5 to three days.

Under the new rules:

— From Friday, face masks will be required in more public settings - including theatres and cinemas

— From Monday, people will be asked to work from home where possible

— From Wednesday, the NHS Covid Pass will also be required for visitors to nightclubs, indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any event with more than 10,000 people

The NHS Covid Pass crashed hours after the PM's announcement, with users unable to download their domestic or travel passes. NHS Digital said it was investigating the issue as a priority.

Mr Johnson said Christmas parties and nativity plays should still go ahead - as long as the guidance is followed.

"The best way to ensure we all have a Christmas as close to normal as possible is to get on with Plan B," he said. "Irritating though it may be, it is not a lockdown."

Ministers have repeatedly said there are no plans for another lockdown in England.

Many of the questions the PM faced centred on the row over the Downing Street Christmas party at the height of lockdown rules last December.

Government adviser Allegra Stratton - who was seen with other No 10 staff joking about the party in a leaked video from last year - resigned just before the news conference, saying she would always regret her remarks.

Earlier Mr Johnson apologized in the Commons for this video, although he said that he had been repeatedly told there had been no party. The Metropolitan Police has now said they will not investigate the issue, due to lack of evidence.

The prime minister denied that the Plan B announcement was timed to divert attention from the Christmas party, saying the government did not want to delay bringing in the rules designed to protect public health.

There are currently 568 confirmed cases of Omicron in the UK, figures show - although the UK Health Security Agency estimates that the true number of infections is about 20 times higher and probably closer to 10,000.

Other nations of the UK - which are in charge of their own Covid rules - have already brought in stricter restrictions similar to Plan B.

People in Wales and Scotland have already been told to work from home where possible and Northern Ireland recently strengthened its advice.

Covid passes are also currently required for venues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In England, people will be exempt from showing their Covid passport when attending religious worship, weddings and funerals.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged people to follow the rules, adding: "Even if you feel angry with a politician just now, please remember just how important compliance is for the health and safety of you, your loved ones and the country."

Sir Patrick Vallance - the government's chief scientific adviser - also urged people to comply. "It only works if we all do it," he said.

There will be a debate and vote in the House of Commons next week on the new rules, said Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who made a statement to MPs at the same time as Mr Johnson's news conference.

After Mr Javid's statement, several Conservative MPs expressed their dismay at the introduction of tougher restrictions. Tory MP Dr Liam Fox said: "We cannot allow permanent threats of overloading the NHS as a means to maintain semi-permanent restrictions on our people."

The health secretary also said vaccine manufacturers may have new vaccines ready to trial "within weeks" to combat Omicron. However, existing vaccines should still protect people against severe illness from Omicron, the World Health Organization said.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the tougher measures, adding: "I hope the prime minister takes his own guidance this time."

Scientists believe the variant could spread more easily than Delta, and could out-compete it to become the dominant variant in the UK.

But much is still unknown, and it could still take weeks to understand how severe illness from the variant is and what it means for the effectiveness of vaccines.

Last week, the government changed the rules in England so that all contacts of suspected Omicron cases have to self-isolate for 10 days, even if they are fully vaccinated.

On Wednesday, another 51,342 confirmed cases of Covid were recorded and a further 161 deaths reported within 28 days of a positive test. — UN News