Nightclubs to close from December 26

Omicron is now the dominant strain in new cases reported daily.

The Executive has agreed that from 6m on 26 December:

• Nightclubs will close.
• Dancing in all hospitality venues will not be allowed.  (Does not apply to weddings or civil partnership celebrations)
• All indoor standing events will not be allowed.

From 6am on 27 December, the following apply:

• It is strongly recommended that household mixing should be reduced to a maximum of 3 households.
• There will be a legal requirement for businesses to take reasonable measures to achieve 2m social distancing in office spaces or, where this cannot be achieved, to provide alternative mitigations.
• It is strongly recommended that you should work from home where possible and where that is not possible that there should be regular workplace testing.
• There will be a statutory duty on businesses to take reasonable measures to promote compliance with face coverings requirements, with a grace period until 7 January before enforcement is implemented.
• The exemption of wearing a face covering where it causes severe stress will be removed and the onus of proving an exemption on medical grounds will be on the individual, with a grace period until 7 January before enforcement is implemented.
• There will be a legal duty on businesses to take all reasonable steps to minimize transmission of the spread of the virus, with a grace period until 7 January before enforcement is implemented.
• You will be required to be seated in all indoor hospitality settings with a maximum of 6 people, or 10 people from a single household, allowed at a table.  (Children aged 12 and under are not counted in the total. This requirement does not apply to weddings or civil partnership celebrations.)
• Indoor seated and all outdoor events can proceed and it is strongly recommended that face coverings should be worn, LFD tests should be taken before attending events and there should be no multi-household travel in the same vehicle.

The Executive is currently developing a financial support package based on the circumstances and challenges facing businesses. The Executive will be reconvening next week and will take into account any further interventions that may be required.

All measures will be kept under regular review in light of the public health situation and the most up to date data.

Everyone should take a lateral flow test before meeting someone from another household. If you are travelling over the holidays, you should take a test before starting your journey.