Health Secretary Sajid Javid said people should “go ahead” with nativity plays and Christmas parties, but "just continue to follow the guidance that was always there” in light of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant. 

Speaking to MPs on Monday December 6, Mr Javid said there were now 261 confirmed Omicron cases in England, 71 in Scotland, and four in Wales.

He said cases of the variant are now circulating in "multiple regions of England" that are not linked to international travel.  

On Monday evening, Mr Javid confirmed that Christmas plans can still go ahead but the guidance in place should still be followed. 

 “I would encourage everyone to look seriously at the national Government guidance. Our guidance is clear," he said. 

“Even before the emergence of this new variant, we all knew that Covid-19 likes the colder, darker days that winter brings, and there’s plenty of guidance there.

“I would encourage people to go ahead with, whether it’s nativity plays or Christmas parties, but just continue to follow the guidance that was always there.”

Mr Javid confirmed that in light of the new variant, and worries is it spreading faster than any other variant, testing is being increased. 

Messenger Newspapers: A woman wearing a face mask passes Christmas signage on Oxford Street, in central London (PA)A woman wearing a face mask passes Christmas signage on Oxford Street, in central London (PA)

“I believe that UKHSA (Health Security Agency) are carrying out some half a million tests, approximately, a day.

“In light of the Omicron variant and some of the concerns around that, the need for greater testing, that testing capacity is being increased.

“We can’t say for certain at this point whether Omicron has the potential to knock us off our road to recovery.”

“We are leaving nothing to chance. Our strategy is to buy ourselves times and to strengthen our defences while our world-leading scientists assess this new variant and what it means for our fight against Covid-19.”

The Government said, as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 51,459 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK.

It also said that a further 41 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.