More than 100,000 Covid-19 cases confirmed in UK for first time

This is the first time the UK have exceeded 100,000 cases

Author: Demi OlutunmogunPublished 22nd Dec 2021

For the first time ever in the pandemic, the daily number Covid-19 cases in the UK have exceeded 100,000.

106,122 new infections have been confirmed on Wednesday 22 December.

Infections have been increasing rapidly ever since the Omicron variant was introduced into the UK.

Wales have since implemented new rules to combat the variant.

READ MORE: Wales to go into Alert Level Two on Boxing Day

There was good news around vaccinations though, with 968,665 booster and third doses of Covid-19 vaccine given in the UK in the last 24-hours.

More than 30.8 million booster and third doses have now been delivered in the UK, with 6.1 million in the past seven days.

Current Plan B rules:

Face coverings

Face coverings have already become an added feature of our lives since they were reinstated at the beginning of December, but from Friday 10th December face masks will also be needed indoors in places like cinemas and theatres.
Boris Johnson said rules around the wearing of face coverings would be "further extended" to "most public indoor venues" including theatres and cinemas.
The Prime Minister told a press briefing in Downing Street: "There will of course be exemptions where it is not practical, such as when eating, drinking, exercising or singing."

Working from home

Under the rules of "Plan B", the government has reimposed the need to work from home where possible in order to stem the spread of the virus. This guidance comes into place from Monday 13th December.

Nightclubs

Under the government's "Plan B" , COVID passports will become necessary to get into all nightclubs. This is due to the close proximity people would be to each other in the venue and help to reduce the spread of the virus.

Indoor spaces

Indoor settings that have more than 500 people unseated will require a COVID Pass to enter. Examples of settings that would need attendees to have a COVID Pass would include music venues and large receptions.

Outdoor events

Outdoor events are not exempt from using COVID Passes either. Unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people will need people to have a vaccine pass. This includes outdoor music festivals, such as Glastonbury Festival.

Stadiums

COVID Passes will be needed to get into any event that is expecting more than 10,000 people to attend. This would include major sports events such as football matches, as well as music concerts in arenas.
The Prime Minister said: "The NHS Covid pass can still be obtained with two doses but we will keep this under review as the boosters roll out.
"And having taken clinical advice since the emergence of Omicron, a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient."

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