Boxing Day Covid restrictions come into force in parts of the UK

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales introduce new measures amid spread of Omicron variant

A member of staff walks through a ward for Covid-19 patients at King's College Hospital in London. PA

A sign urging residents to wear face masks in Nottingham. People who have tested positive for the coronavirus will now be able to leave home on day seven if they have two negative tests. AP

A waiter cleans a table at an empty restaurant in London. Authorities are still urging people to stay at home amid fears over the Omicron coronavirus variant. Reuters

Passengers wearing Santa hats sit on the top deck of a tour bus as they view the Christmas lights in central London. AFP

Nurses work at a desk surrounded by Christmas decorations in a ward for Covid-19 patients at King's College Hospital. PA

Empty tables outside a restaurant in the Seven Dials district of London. Covid-19 infections have surged in recent days, authorities say. AFP

People receive a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at a temporary clinic set up in the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast. AFP

Shoppers stroll through Carnaby Street in London. AP

People, most of them without masks, skate around the Christmas tree at the Natural History Museum in London. Reuters

Health workers speak with a patient inside a vaccination centre in Liverpool. AFP

Tourists cross Westminster Bridge in London. AP

A sign outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, which has been forced to close its doors for a week due to staff shortages related to coronavirus. PA

Commuters at a quiet Waterloo Station in south London. PA

Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron

Post-Christmas restrictions have come into force in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales amid the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The new measures, introduced by the devolved governments in the three states, have mainly hit the hospitality and leisure industry.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has so far resisted any new restrictions for England, but has said he will act if required as infections continue to rise.

In Scotland, large events will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 sitting indoors and 500 guests outdoors.

On Monday, one-metre social distance rules will return to restaurants and indoor locations, including gyms, theatres and museums.

The last available figures released by the Scottish government show 7,076 new infections reported on Christmas Eve, with 10 deaths.

In Wales, a maximum of six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants from Sunday. The two-metre social distance rule is returning for public places and offices.

Outdoor events will be limited to 50 people, with 30 indoors, but numbers able to attend events such as weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and wakes will be determined by the size of the venue. Nightclubs will close.

In Northern Ireland, indoor standing events will not be allowed from Boxing Day. On Monday, table service will return at pubs and restaurants and a maximum of six people from different households can sit together.

In Westminster, Mr Johnson is under pressure from many in his Conservative Party to not reintroduce restrictions for England.

Thousands of people spent a few minutes of Christmas Day queuing for the Covid vaccine.

The UK has expanded its booster programme over the past two weeks, reopening sports stadiums and cathedrals as inoculation centres, after research showed that two doses of the vaccine were not enough to protect against the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

A record 122,186 new infections were reported across the UK on Friday.

The spread of the Omicron variant reduced the number of shoppers looking for a Boxing Day bargain in the UK, according to figures.

Customer numbers at shopping sites across the UK on Boxing Day up to noon was 45 per cent below the 2019 level, data from retail expert Springboard showed.

In central London, which was 67 per cent down on on 2019, there were queues outside Selfridges, Boots, Primark, Disney and Zara on Oxford Street.

Masks were worn by most shoppers on Oxford Street, whether in a queue or walking around, but many of the shops were not full of people.

Customer numbers in Northern Ireland was 73 per cent below the 2019 level, 63 per cent lower in Wales, and almost 50 per cent lower in Scotland.