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Friday, January 16, 2026

COVID-19 Plan B announced

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The Prime Minister announced that England is moving to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

In a live press conference to the nation on Wednesday, Boris Johnson described the move as ‘proportionate and responsible’ which would ‘buy time to get yet more boosters into more arms’.

The government’s Plan B will see the additional restrictions introduced over the next week:

  • From Friday, the legal requirement to wear a face-covering will be extended to most public indoor venues, although it will not include hospitality settings
  • From Monday, the guidance to work from home where it is possible to do so will be reintroduced
  • Daily tests will be introduced for close contacts, rather than a requirement to self?isolate, to minimise disruption.

Following the news conference Build UK quickly urged construction sites to continue to minimise the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus to keep workers safe and sites open.

Build UK also informed its members the CLC’s Site Operating Procedures and guidance on the Use of Face Coverings in Construction are now under review following the PM’s announcement.

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