Boris Johnson rules out immediately imposing further Covid restrictions

Boris Johnson has ruled out immediately imposing further Covid restrictions, though will not hesitate to do so if the data shows it is necessary.

According to new reports, the Prime Minister is monitoring the data hour by hour, while also urging the public to ‘please exercise caution as you go about your lives.’

Following a two-hour-long emergency Cabinet meeting this afternoon, Johnson said: “Unfortunately I must say to people that we will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public, to protect public health, to protect our NHS.

“We won’t hesitate to take action.”

Speaking to BBC News, Johnson added that the country faces ‘a serious spike’ in Omicron but praises the public who have come forward to get the vaccine – as well as the vaccinators and volunteers helping with the rollout.

He said: “I really think it is vital that we focus on the messages we are trying to get across today.”

The prime minister was then asked about a photo that emerged of a gathering in Downing Street while the UK was under strict Covid restrictions last year.

At this, he replied by saying it was a picture of ‘people at work, talking about work.’