The more contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19 spread rapidly across the UK in December and into the New Year but appears to be gradually slowing down, with case numbers falling and the wave of mass hospitalisations experts had feared failing to materialise.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has now dropped the “Plan B” social restrictions brought in to stop the spread before Christmas, meaning that guidance on mask-wearing in public places, working from home and presenting Covid passes to enter crowded venues have been scrapped.
