England’s Covid rules are changing in response to concerns raised about the newly identified Omicron variant of the virus.

From tomorrow (Tuesday, November 30), face coverings will be mandatory in shops, on public transport, and some other settings in England, while secondary school pupils are being “strongly advised” to wear them in communal areas.

All contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.

From 4am tomorrow, arrivals to the UK must take a PCR test within 48 hours of entering the country, and they will need to self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Prime minister Boris Johnson announced the “temporary and precautionary” measures on Saturday, pledging they will be reviewed in three weeks.

Nine cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in the UK in Nottingham, Chelmsford, Westminster, Brentwood, Lanarkshire, and Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

According to the World Health Organisation, preliminary evidence suggests Omicron carries a higher risk of reinfection, but it is not clear how transmissible it is or if it can evade vaccine protection.

Despite the new variant and rules, health secretary Sajid Javid said families can plan for Christmas “as normal” and said it was “nowhere near” time to reintroduce social distancing rules and work-from-home guidance.

It has been reported that scientists are set to expand the Covid-19 booster vaccine programme to people aged under the age of 40 and are considering reducing the period between second and third doses.

There have been no confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Somerset or the wider south west region.

Overall, the number of confirmed cases fell in three districts (Somerset West and Taunton, Sedgemoor, and Bath and North East Somerset), but rose in three (North Somerset, South Somerset, and Mendip) between Monday, November 22 and Sunday, November 28.

Nine people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in Somerset last week.

Somerset’s case rate was 437.7 per 100,000 people in the seven days to Tuesday, November 23 – the latest data available on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

The seven-day case rate for the UK was slightly higher at 439.5 per 100,000 people.

Here are the statistics for confirmed coronavirus cases, deaths within 28 days of a positive test, and case rates for Somerset’s districts for last week:

Somerset West and Taunton

Last week, 455 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test in Somerset West and Taunton – a decrease of 4.6% compared to the previous seven-day period.

One person died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week.

Somerset West and Taunton had a case rate of 306.9 per 100,000 people for the seven days to November 23.

That was the lowest seven-day case rate in Somerset. 

In the south west, only three other districts - the city of Bristol, Stroud and Swindon - had seven-day case rates lower than 399 per 100,000 people.

Sedgemoor

In Sedgemoor, 533 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test last week.

This shows a decrease of 4% compared to the previous week.

Three people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the district last week.

Sedgemoor’s case rate was 424.5 per 100,000 people for the seven days to November 23.

Somerset County Gazette: NEW RULES: Health secretary Sajid Javid said families should plan for Christmas "as normal" (Image: Aaron Chown, PA Wire)NEW RULES: Health secretary Sajid Javid said families should plan for Christmas "as normal" (Image: Aaron Chown, PA Wire)

North Somerset

995 people had a confirmed positive test result in North Somerset last week – an increase of 15% compared to the previous seven days.

North Somerset has seen consecutive week-on-week rises in the number of confirmed positive tests after a previous small increase of 0.9%.

Two people died in North Somerset within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week.

North Somerset's case rate for the seven days to November 23 was 410.5 per 100,000 people. 

South Somerset

In South Somerset, 907 people had a confirmed positive test result last week.

This shows an increase of 17.2% compared to the previous seven-day period.

One person died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the district last week.

The district's case rate for the seven days to November 23 was 492 per 100,000 people.

Mendip 

694 people had a confirmed positive coronavirus test in Mendip last week – an increase of 22.6% compared to the previous seven days.

No deaths were reported within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test in the district last week.

Mendip had the highest case rate in the county for the seven days to November 23 at 547.8 per 100,000 people. 

Bath and North East Somerset

Last week, 750 people tested positive for coronavirus in Bath and North East Somerset.

This shows a decrease of 16.2% compared to the previous week.

Two deaths were reported within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test last week.

The district's case rate for the seven days to November 23 was 418.6 per 100,000 people.