There is widespread speculation that the Prime Minister plans to impose new rules after Christmas as a circuit breaker to slow rapidly rising coronavirus numbers.

What the media is reporting is that he is considering what would essentially be a return to the coronavirus rules seen in England in the spring.

Those were :

No socialising indoors outside your household (with the exception of a support bubble)

Work from home if you can

Pubs and restaurant to serve outside

Hairdressers Beauty Salons will be open

Higher education to learn remotely. The media is reporting the restrictions will come in on December 27 for a month to help curb infections. Returning to the government site for that time Step 2 - implemented in May 2021 they wrote that it entailed: "The opening of non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen. Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated ('table service'). Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households. Events

While funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

In other coronavirus news it has been announced that the Queen has cancelled her traditional Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk, as a precaution against the rising levels of the Omicron variant.

Instead she will stay in Windsor Castle where she will be joined by members of the Royal Family.

In 2020 it was the first time in 32 years that the monarch and her family weren't at Sandringham where traditionally she stays until February.