This means:
- From tomorrow (Friday 10 December), face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings, including theatres and cinemas, unless individuals are exempt. Face coverings remain mandatory in shops, banks, post offices, hairdressers and on public transport.
- From Monday (13 December), people who can work from home should do so.
- From Wednesday (15 December), NHS Covid passes will be required to attend unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people, and any venue with more than 10,000 people, showing that visitors aged 18 or over are fully vaccinated, have had a negative Covid-19 test in the last 48 hours, or are exempt.
For full details of the new Covid-19 measures, visit Coronavirus (COVID‑19).
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Covid rates remain high in Wolverhampton, and there are clearly concerns about the spread of the new Omicron variant across the country.
"As we have seen previously, introducing measures such as face coverings and working from home can be effective in driving down infection rates and, with the Government introducing Plan B, everyone will need to do their bit and help stop the spread as we enter the Christmas period.”
She added: "Though it might not seem like it, we are in a much better place than we were this time last year; this isn’t a lockdown like we had last autumn when, as you might recall, we had to stay home, couldn’t mix with others, and pubs, restaurants, leisure venues and non-essential shops were closed.
"Infection rates then were similar to those we are seeing now – the big difference this year is the impact that the vaccine programme has had, and is continuing to have.
"So while we all need to follow the new Plan B rules, the most important thing we can do keep ourselves and others safe is to get vaccinated as soon as we are able to. So, if you are due your booster, which is now available to many people three months after their second dose, or you haven't yet had your first or second vaccination, please come forward as soon as possible.
“Please also continue to get a regular rapid test, particularly if you are planning to meet up with someone who might be more vulnerable, to reassure yourselves and others that you don’t have the virus."
A number of Covid-19 walk-in vaccination clinics are operating in Wolverhampton, including one in the Mander Centre (Upper Mall, Central Arcade, opposite Rymans) which is offering first, second and booster vaccinations from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
For a full list of local vaccination centres, many of which are offering walk-in appointments, please visit Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site. To book an appointment in advance, please visit Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination or call 119.
For information about rapid testing, for people without symptoms of Covid-19, please visit Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site. People with symptoms of Covid-19 must book a free PCR test by calling 119 or visiting Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19).
Latest figures show there were 345.3 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last 7 days. That means 908 people tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of cases will likely be higher.
