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Ministers were told not to be ‘Christmas killjoys’ last night after festive events were cancelled because of the Omicron variant.
Sajid Javid was the first to spark anger from hospitality bosses after he urged partygoers to take a Covid test.
The Health Secretary even suggested they should consider wearing a face mask.
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey then went further, saying there ‘shouldn’t be much snogging under the mistletoe’.
It emerged last night that office Christmas parties were already being postponed and employees told to work from home amid fears over the new strain.
A string of hotels and restaurants revealed they faced losing thousands of pounds from lost bookings.
Ministers including Therese Coffey (left) and Sajid Javid (right) were told not to be ‘ Christmas killjoys’ last night after festive events were cancelled because of the Omicron variant
Anyone in close contact with an Omicron case must now self-isolate for ten days, even if doubled jabbed.
The new rule is thought to have left bosses worried that an outbreak at an event could put multiple staff in quarantine.
Hospitality chiefs and Tory MPs believe the mixed messages – Boris Johnson has said people should ‘keep living your life’ – was having a ‘chilling effect on consumer confidence’.
Steve Baker, who spoke out against new coronavirus curbs in the Commons on Tuesday, said the public
