Face masks return as Omicron variant reaches UK

London: In a bid to curb the spread of new Omicron variant of coronavirus, face masks will become mandatory from Tuesday (November 30) shops and public transports.

Prime Minister of United Kingdom (UK) Boris Johnson has ordered the return of mandatory mask-wearing and for contacts of Omicron COVID-19 cases to self-isolate, even if they are vaccinated, after the concerning variant was detected in Britain.  

As the prime minister prepared to reimpose measures to control the spread of COVID over fears the new strain could evade existing vaccines, all international arrivals will have to take a PCR test by the end of their second day in the UK. 

Boris Johnson said the "temporary and precautionary" measures will be reviewed in three weeks, while the government's vaccine experts will be tasked with considering whether to extend booster jabs to all over-18s.  

Health Secretary Sajid Javid will be questioned on the details of the restrictions, including on when exactly they will be introduced, during broadcast interviews on Sunday. 

He said the strain, designated a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), appears to spread "very rapidly", can transmit between the double-vaccinated and may partially reduce the protection of existing vaccines. 

On Saturday, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed the two Omicron cases in England after genomic sequencing overnight. 

The individuals and their households were then directed to get themselves into self-isolation and targeted testing is being carried out in areas where they are thought to have been infectious.