A leaked report suggests officials are drawing up plans for a two-week circuit breaker lockdown after Christmas, including a ban on indoor mixing.
Pubs and restaurants would be limited to outdoor service and people would also be banned from meeting others indoors, according to The Times.
It comes after a 'tidal wave' of Omicron cases in a matter of days, with infections spreading at an alarming rate in Charnwood, Blaby, Oadby and Wigston, North West Leicestershire, Harborough, Melton and Hinckley and Bosworth.
Read more breaking news from LeicestershireLive here
Public health director Mike Sandys, told LeicestershireLive yesterday the Omicron variant is causing infection rates to explode across the county to a rate unseen 'since the beginning of the pandemic'.
Reports now suggest plans for tougher restrictions are being drawn up, which could be put in place before the end of the year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was presented with a number of options on Friday for a so-called Plan C, ranging from a "mild guidance to nudge people, right through to lockdown", according to The Financial Times.
The PM is still reportedly favouring 'the guidance route' - but also said he had to be realistic about the threat of new variant.
However, scientists have now reportedly told ministers tougher measures need to be brought in "very soon".
According to a leaked report from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), seen by the BBC, advisers have recommended moving back to the restrictions seen in step one and two of lockdown easing in the spring - including a ban on indoor mixing and indoor hospitality.
They have also reportedly recommended against delaying on tougher restrictions until 2022.
A government spokesperson said: "The Government will continue to look closely at all the emerging data and we’ll keep our measures under review as we learn more about this variant."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has reportedly flown back early from a work trip to California for crisis talks with business leaders concerned about the impact of measures, especially on the hospitality sector.
He also met virtually with the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses, and the British Chambers of Commerce on Friday afternoon.
The groups raised fears about the impact of cancellations in hospitality in the run-up to Christmas during the meeting, and the importance of clear messaging from the Government.
Meanwhile, the UK's devolved administrations have ramped up demands for more cash support amid rising cases of the Omicron variant, with England still the country with the most relaxed restrictions in UK.
A Cobra meeting is set to be held over the weekend with the leaders of the devolved nations.
Mr Johnson has warned that Omicron is "a very serious threat to us now."
On a visit to a vaccination centre in Hillingdon, west London, on Friday, he said: "We are seeing a considerable wave coming through and people have got to be prepared and they have got to understand what it entails."
Asked about conflicting messages from the Government and its advisers on socialising over the Christmas break, Mr Johnson said: "What both Chris Whitty and I are saying is that there is a big wave of Omicron coming through. People need to be prudent. You need to think about your budget of risk."
According to the Government's latest figures, a further 93,045 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded in the UK as of 9am on Friday, the highest daily total recorded since the pandemic began and a rise of 4,669 on the previous record set on Thursday.
Of those cases, 1,414 were in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Across the UK, 7,611 people are in hospital with the virus, a rise of 163 patients (2 per cent) on the previous week.
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2021-12-18 09:39:03Z
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