Business in West Yorkshire fear Covid cancellations this Christmas
But a minister is urging people to "keep calm and carry on"
Bars and restaurants in West Yorkshire say they're worried about mass cancellations this Christmas, amid fears about a new variant of coronavirus.
But a senior government minister says he won't be cancelling his plans, and Boris Johnson has urged people to "carry on" as normal.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has also said people should be encouraged to "avoid large groups" and meet outdoors where possible over the festive period.
Bars and restaurants face "devastating blow"
The hospitality sector has warned mass cancellations this Christmas could lead to closures in the new year, as people rethink their plans.
Business owners are worried they could be without the cash from Christmas parties, and have criticised the government's approach to new rules.
People have been told to wear face coverings on public transport and in shops, but there's no specific laws for hospitality.
Martin Greenhow, who owns Mojos bars in Leeds, has accused the government of shying away to distance themselves from any impact on businesses.
He said: "They're obviously taking the chance to distance themselves from the damage this mixed messaging could do."
"Our sector is fighting for survival, but clandestine manoeuvres to influence public behaviour will bring irreparable damage".
Boris Johnson urges people not to cancel plans
The prime-minister has urged people not to cancel their festive plans in light of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Boris Johnson, who received his booster dose of the Covid vaccine on Thursday, urged the public to "continue as they are".
He was speaking after business minister George Freeman appeared to muddy the waters by suggesting parties may depend on how many people are attending.
Earlier, the Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "I think, as you know, Government advice does not set any limits on numbers.
"There is nothing in the rules to prevent anyone from having Christmas parties or gathering in that way."
Mr Johnson, speaking to broadcasters at St Thomas' Hospital in London, said: "I want to repeat the guidance is there and I'm very, very keen that people understand this, we don't want people to feel that they need to start cancelling things, to start... you talk about kids in nativity plays and that kind of thing.
"I don't think there's any need to stop that at all.
"I think we're taking a balanced and proportionate approach to the risk, but I want and I believe that Christmas this year will be considerably better than Christmas last year."
Experts urge people to avoid big gatherings
Meanwhile, the British Medical Association has said people should be encouraged to "avoid large groups" and meet outdoors where possible over Christmas.
It comes as scientists continue to study the possible threat posed by Omicron, which could have the "substantial" ability to reinfect people who've previously had Covid.
Research from South Africa, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found people who had tested positive for coronavirus could pick up the virus again, potentially causing a wave of infections in those with some prior immunity.
It did not say how the variant will behave when spreading in a highly vaccinated population such as the UK, or whether the virus can evade the protection offered by vaccines against severe disease.
But experts in the UK believe their research on the impact of booster vaccines could offer hope in the fight against Omicron.
The CovBoost study found that booster jabs may well offer good protection in the face of the variant.
A team studying the effects of third doses said the body's T cell immune response after a booster shot is such that it may provide protection from hospital admission and death.
The study also backs up the UK's decision to offer Pfizer or Moderna as a third shot, with mRNA jabs leading to the most significant rise in immunity levels.
Professor Saul Faust, trial lead and director of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said the vaccines worked well against existing variants, although Omicron was not tested in the study.
Asked specifically about Omicron, he said: "Our hope as scientists is that protection against hospitalisation and death will remain intact."