SAJID JAVID today encouraged millions of people to take a lateral flow test before going to Christmas parties to stop them becoming Covid-spreading events.
With new tougher measures on mask wearing in shops and on public transport introduced yesterday to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, the Health Secretary urged the public to be “sensible” during the festive season.
Mr Javid insisted people should not change Christmas plans at this stage, but said he would take a lateral flow test (LFT) before attending a large gathering.
He added: “If you are invited to a Christmas party, there’s quite a few people there, maybe you want to take an LFT test before you go. Go to the party, but just be cautious.”
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme if he would wear a mask at a party, Mr Javid said: “Maybe. It depends if I am walking around or sitting down. It depends if I’m eating. People just need to make a decision based on the guidance.”
Restaurants, bars and pubs are worried the new measures to tackle the spread of Omicron will lead to a wave of cancellations, hitting the crucial Christmas period.
In other developments:
This story is from the December 01, 2021 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 01, 2021 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Arsenal eye new targets as deal for Zubimendi hits a snag
ARSENAL are tracking multiple midfield targets, amid concerns a deal for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi could prove difficult.
PLAYERS BACKING POCH TO STAY ON
BOOST FOR UNDER-FIRE CHELSEA BOSS AHEAD OF SUMMER REVIEW
Rivals facing crunch clash in different states of play
With Spurs back in action after long lay-off, the Gunners will hope to catch them cold
Sutton aim to be pitch perfect...even if they drop down
COUNTDOWN TO THE FINAL ROUND OF MATCHES IN LEAGUES ONE AND TWO
WHSmith travel stores now bring in two thirds of profits
THE boss of WHSmith hailed an expansion of its travel stores to focus on health and beauty products, as shops at airports and train stations brought in two thirds of the retailer's profits.
Soriot bounces back after £18m pay row
THE top-paid boss on the FTSE 100, AstraZeneca's Pascal Soriot, bounced back today from the row over his salary, as the pharma giant revealed sales grew by a fifth in the first three months of the year.
Mining giant in 'monster' £31bn takeover approach
A SHOCK proposal for a mega-merger in the mining sector raised the prospect of one of the biggest City deals in years today, and brought with it the threat of the FTSE 100 losing one of its largest companies.
It's a titan of Wall Street and the City, but does Goldman Sachs have a women problem?
HAS Goldman Sachs got a women problem? Is it still, in the face of all changing fashion, a macho world of golfing bros who cut deals over late-night sambucas in ways that make it very difficult for women, especially those with families, to get ahead?
The secrets of our success: London start-up founders share their tips at Standard expo
ALMOST 5,000 founders of London's start-ups and scale-ups as well as senior business leaders flocked to this week's SMEXPO event hailed by retail tycoon Theo Paphitis as \"inspirational and essential\".
Princess Beatrice 'heartbroken' by suspected drug death of her ex
PRINCESS Beatrice was said to be heartbroken after her ex-boyfriend was found dead from a suspected overdose in a Miami hotel room.