Tougher restrictions to help reduce the spread of coronavirus variant Omicron are likely to be introduced before New Year.
The UK recorded its highest number of confirmed infections for the third day running — 93,045 in just 24 hours.
Government insiders reportedly told The Times new rules are likely to ban people from meeting anybody from other households indoors.
The plans could be shown to ministers “imminently”, with MPs due to be recalled to parliament to vote on the restrictions.
Similar restrictions were in place earlier this year as part of a two-week circuit breaker.
Under the potential plans, schools and shops will remain open but restaurants and bars will be forced to stop serving customers indoors.
The newspaper source reports the rule of six would return for meeting outdoors and the most vulnerable in society would be told to shield.
The new measures could come into effect as soon as 27 December.
According to the BBC, specialists at the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have advised the government to bring in tougher restrictions “very soon”.
Professor Neil Ferguson at Imperial College London predicts 3,000 daily Omicron deaths a day in January if further restrictions are not brought in, The Mirror reports.
