COVID: Face masks re-introduced as UK Omicron cases found

UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson says face coverings will become mandatory again in shops and on public transport in England from next week under a raft of measures to target the new COVID variant, Omicron.

BBC reports that Johnson announced the restrictions at a Downing Street news conference after it was confirmed that two Omicron cases had been detected in Brentwood, Essex, and Nottingham.

PCR tests for everyone entering the UK will be introduced and all contacts of new variant cases will have to self-isolate, even if fully jabbed.

Officials said the cases were linked and connected to travel in southern Africa.

Johnson says the measures were "temporary and precautionary.

The new variant was first reported from South Africa on Wednesday, with early evidence suggesting it has a higher re-infection risk.

[Source: BBC]