Restrictions haven't been imposed, but many people are choosing to stay home to avoid catching the highly infectious Omicron variant.
Young people partied on in Newcastle but central London looked eerily quiet for this time of year
Christmas shopper numbers in central London have also tumbled, with fewer people seen rushing out to buy last-minute gifts on Oxford Street and Regent Street.London’s Soho is normally packed this time of yeat According to data from the New West End Company, the West End footfall declined on Tuesday by 27% compared with the same day in 2019.
The Treasury is also providing a £30m top-up to the Cultural Recovery Fund – which supports venues such as museums and theatres, and reintroducing the statutory sick pay rebate scheme which allows small and medium-sized companies to claim compensation for the cost of their employees’ sick pay. Many people are choosing to make the most of their freedom amid speculation new restrictions could be announced.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned the NHS is in danger of being ‘overwhelmed’ by the surge in Omicron cases, despite further evidence it causes less severe illness than earlier Covid-19 strains.
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