Face coverings are once again be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from Tuesday, November 30 — but pubs and restaurants are exempt for now.

The Prime Minister announced the new, temporary measures to respond to emergence of UK cases of the Omicron COVID variant, with the first two cases in Nottingham and Chelmsford.

The government said the measures are precautionary, and will be reviewed in three weeks. MPs are due to vote on confirming the measures after they come into force.

The other significant change affects international travellers, with everyone entering the UK (other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland) will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Travel restrictions have already been implemented to slow the spread of the variant. From Sunday, November 28, South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola were added to the UK’s travel red list.

About COVID-19 Omicron

The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome.

Early indications suggest this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and current vaccines may be less effective against it.

A rapid rise in infections in South Africa has been attributed to the spread of this new variant of COVID-19.

Health secretary: “plans as normal for Christmas”

Sajid Javid told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday it would be “irresponsible to make guarantees” but the measures announced this week in reaction to the Omicron variant will “buy us time” to enable scientists to assess it.

“People should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it’s going to be a great Christmas,” he said.

The time between COVID booster vaccinations should be shortened to three months and recipient eligibility expanded, according to recommendations by the government’s vaccine advisors.

A press briefing on Monday revealed the new measures as concerns increase around the new Omicron variant.

If approved by government, it will mean those aged 18-39 will be offered a booster after just three months instead of the previous six. It will be prioritised by the risk to the patient.

Some people who are severely immune-suppressed could even receive a fourth dose of the vaccine — again no less than three months from their previous.

Under the changes, children aged 12-15 will also be able to get their second vaccine dose three months after their first.

England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said: “We’ve known from outset of pandemic, variants have been inevitable.”

He said Omicron was of increased concern but added there was “far more we don’t know about Omicron yet than we do know”.

He told those present there were many mutations with some already causing “worry about a possible effect on vaccine effectiveness”.

However, he added: “This is not all doom and gloom at this stage and I do not want people to panic at this stage.”

Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said there was no  evidence that existing vaccines “do not work”, however, added “We are making this issue a priority.”

Professor Wei Shen Lim, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said advisors wanted to get ahead of any new wave of the variant.

“If we deploy a vaccine in the middle of a wave or after the peak, then the benefit from the vaccine is much lower,” he said.

“We want to provide boosters early enough such that it is before any possible wave.”

In a subsequent statement to the House of Commons, Health secretary Sajid Javid told MPs the UK was entering winter in a “strong position”.

However, he said: “We expect cases to rise over the coming days.

“In this race between the vaccines and the virus the new variant may have given the virus extra legs.”

At the weekend, the government announced new measures to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, including making masks mandatory in shops and on public transport, and adding several countries to the UK’s Travel Red List.

Due to problems with the heating, the Boston Mass Vaccination Centre at PRSA (Princess Royal Sports Arena) had to close the site early today.

A sculptor living in Lincoln has two new wood carving creations that have given a new lease of life to old tree trunks in the city.

Christian Andreolli, 56, carved his latest creation using an oak tree that is a quarter of a century old, and hopes it can be used as a sculpture in Lincolnshire.

The design is called Farmlife and depicts a goat, pig and horses intertwined into one wooden sculpture that stands 3.2 metres high, after being carved out of a 4.1 tonne English oak tree trunk.

A look at the gigantic tree trunk Christian carved to create Farmlife. | Photo: Christian Andreolli

Christian said it took him 16 days to make the sculpture, using at least 20 chains to remove ingrown metal nails from the wood, dating back over 100 years.

He said of Farmlife: “This oak was slow grown with no fungus or other diseases, it had to go because it was too close to a house in Legsby.

“The buyer of the sculpture can now enjoy the view of the artwork for another hundred years, and I would be very happy to see it stay in the county as a landmark or eye-catcher.”

He hopes that this sculpture will end up staying in Lincolnshire when it is bought. | Photo: Christian Andreolli

The Lincolnite wrote a feature about Christian‘s amazing work last year, looking at the many creations he’s made out of wood since moving to Lincoln from Austria in 2019.

He has previously made garden benches for pubs, carved monuments for Woodside Wildlife Park, and animal designs for private clients.

Christian’s hand sculpture was made for Lincoln business Signs Express, and it sits proudly outside its offices. | Photo: Christian Andreolli

This latest creation is also announced alongside another design of his, which is a three-metre high carving of a hand, for signage experts Signs Express in Lincoln.

The design sits proudly outside the firm’s offices on Wrightsway, and was carved using a three tonne ash tree trunk.

Christian pictured here with the finished product. | Photo: Christian Andreolli

To see more of Christian’s portfolio or to book him for commission of a sculpture, visit his website.