Post-Christmas lockdown not ruled out as government warns it 'won't hesitate' to impose new restrictions

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The health minister has said the government 'will not hesitate' to take further measures to tackle of the spread of Covid 'if it's required to keep people safe'.

Gillian Keegan said the government is 'watching the data very, very carefully' as the Omicron strain continues to spread. She did not rule out a 'circuit-breaker' after Christmas, after Boris Johnson reassured the public that no further restrictions will be put in before December 25.

Asked on Sky News if tighter rules are a question of when and not if, Ms Keegan said: "We’ve said we have to keep that option open because you know we are looking at cases that are going up at the moment and we are looking at hospitalisation, which is going up." READ MORE: Coronavirus LIVE updates as