Javid to give urgent update today as MP warns Plan B appears to be a ‘stepping stone’ towards lockdown by stealth

The Health Secretary Sajid Javid is to give an urgent update about Omicron in the House of Commons later today.

Following the Prime Minister’s televised address to the nation last night, this has sparked potential lockdown fears.

Tory MPs are concerned that Boris Johnson could quietly be laying the foundations to reimpose the “stay at home” order as he warned there is a “tidal wave of Omicron coming” and is strongly urging Brits to get their booster jab for protection.

Boris Johnson warned that two vaccines is not enough to protect people from Omicron and the UK is facing an “emergency in our battle with the new variant.”

Johnson hinted that extra measures could be required unless all UK adults received a booster within weeks.

Johnson warned, “A wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths.”

The former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, said the introduction of Plan B appears to be a “stepping stone” towards another national lockdown.

He added, that this “feels like” lockdown by stealth.

Lockdown fears are growing amongst many as Javid warned on Monday that Covid is “spreading at a phenomenal rate.”

Speaking to Sky News Javid said the rate that Covid is spreading is “something we’ve never seen before.”

Johnson confirmed on Monday that at least one patient who was in hospital has died after being infected with Omicron.

Johnson said visiting a vaccine clinic in London, “Sadly yes Omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with Omicron.

Johnson told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby that he “will not rule out further restrictions before Christmas.”

Johnson was asked repeatedly by reporters if he would rule out more measures this side of Christmas, he said, “Throughout the pandemic I’ve been at great pains to stress to the public that we have to watch where the pandemic is going and we take whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.

“We think the steps that we are taking – so Plan B, combined with a hugely ambitious acceleration of the booster campaign, bringing it forward by a month so we offer a booster to every adult by the end of the year – we think that’s the right approach.”