Masks rules ‘to stay until New Year’ amid Omicron crisis as PM ‘desperate not to ruin Christmas’ with tougher measures

they are likely to be in place for another three weeks from that date, giving scientists more time to assess if new variant Omicron is more harmful than other strains.

Rules on pre-travel Covid tests and a compulsory ten-day quarantine for anyone who has been in contact with an Omicron case are also expected to be extended.

According to the paper, PM Boris Johnson is resisting pressure to move to "Plan B" until early next year at least.

That would mean tougher restrictions to contain the spread such as vaccine passports and ordering millions of Brits to working from home again.

The source said: "In terms of Plan B, we are not there yet. The ambition is that people can have a much more normal Christmas than last year.

"That depends on what the data shows about the new variant. But certainly the hope is that things stay as they are in the next couple of weeks."

It comes as The Sun revealed Mr Johnson hopes to confirm this week that Christmas is going ahead as planned.

Downing Street insiders say the Prime Minister is set to deliver an update on the Omicron variant days earlier than the three-week review — previously announced as December 18.

It was feared new restrictions would be announced then — putting Christmas plans in doubt.

Insiders say ministers are “gripped with a united fear the public would never forgive them if they ruin Christmas for the second year running".

And another Downing Street source told The Sun: “The hope is we won’t have to introduce anything new, and the current measures — testing at the border and mask wearing — are not too much of an impingement.”

The positive news comes as more than 20 million Brits were confirmed to have received their Covid booster and Deputy PM Dominic Raab told people to go out and enjoy Christmas.

But meanwhile it was reported nearly two-thirds of high-risk people and their carers are yet to receive a booster dose.

Data seen by showed that at least 300,000 people unable to travel for their jab have not it after GPs opted out of administering them.

An unpublished Whitehall study found that only 170,000 housebound people out of 470,000 had received their booster.

According to the Telegraph, some are still waiting for a jab ten weeks on and have been given "no answer" by the NHS despite fears of the "super-mutant" Omicron strain.

GPs have warned they're unable to administer the vaccine to housebound patients because they do not have the time or staff.

In response, a NHS spokesman said: "Local NHS and GP teams are contacting their eligible housebound patients, and we are working closely with St John Ambulance to give local areas additional support.

"We are also providing additional funding to help local teams secure additional staff so that all eligible housebound patients are offered a booster as quickly and safely as possible."