England's Covid rules are being strengthened in response to concern over the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced.

New measures include:

• From Tuesday, face coverings will once again be compulsory in shops and on public transport
• All contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be required to self-isolate for 10 days. This is regardless of a person's vaccination status
• Anyone entering the UK will require a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and will need to self-isolate until they have a negative result. The change will be brought in "as soon as possible" following agreement with the other UK nations (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - the UK's vaccine advisory body - will consider giving the booster vaccine "to as wide as group as possible". It will also reduce the gap between the second dose and booster

The PM said the new rules were temporary and would be reviewed after three weeks.

Source: BBC