'Be cautious but we're not locking down' - Boris Johnson Shutdown

Addressing the nation in Wednesday's Downing Street news briefing, Prof Whitty encouraged people to take tests before visiting vulnerable people and to meet in well ventilated areas or outdoors where possible in the run-up to Christmas.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the government is "not locking stuff down" and said ministers do not "want to make your choices for you about your social life". 

According to report, his comments came after England's Chief Medical Officer warned COVID records will be broken a lot in the next few weeks and urged people: "Don't mix with people you don't have to." 

But some Conservative MPs have accused the chief medical officer of going beyond his brief. 

Speaking in the House of Commons, Conservative Steve Brine, a former public health minister, said: "At a stroke the chief medical officer changed Government policy and put this country, certainly hospitality... into effective lockdown." 

While on a visit to the Saga vaccination centre in Ramsgate, Kent, the prime minister was asked by reporters whether the latest advice amounted to a lockdown by "stealth". 

Mr Johnson rejected the suggestion, saying the vaccine roll-out meant things were "very different" from last winter, but said people should be "cautious" in the next few weeks. 

He added: "What we have is the additional protection of the vaccines, and the ability to test. 

"So if you want to do something, if you want to go to an event or a party, then the sensible thing to do, if that's a priority, the sensible thing to do is to get a test and to make sure that you're being cautious.

"But we're not saying that we want to cancel stuff, we're not locking stuff down, and the fastest route back to normality is to get boosted." 

Mr Johnson reiterated that Plan B is being implemented "which has some sensible restrictions", adding that this is the "balanced" and "proportionate" approach to take to the new Omicron variant.

But the PM also said he will do "whatever I have to to protect the public". 

Downing Street also denied the government is sending out mixed messages on social contacts following the emergence of the Omicron variant. 

Family visits over Christmas will be down to "individual circumstances and judgment", Number 10 said.