Sunday Papers – PM tightens rules as variant found in UK

Most of Sunday’s papers focus on the two newly identified cases of the Omicron variant in the UK and a return of some anti-Covid measures in England as a result.

Sunday Mirror – ‘Mask up … Even you Boris’

The Sunday Mirror describes Boris Johnson’s news conference to outline new COVID restrictions as “hastily convened” – and says the PM “will hopefully follow his own rules” after being pictured without a face covering on a busy northern train.

Sunday Papers - PM tightens rules as variant found in UK — Sunday Papers – PM tightens rules as variant found in UK

Sunday People – ‘Beat mutant virus to save Christmas’

More masks, PCR tests and isolating is expected as the Omicron variant hits the UK, the Sunday People writes. Its headline: “Beat mutant virus to save Christmas.”

The Sunday Times -‘Christmas plans thrown into doubt as new Covid variant arrives in UK’

Holiday plans for millions of people have been thrown into doubt after the PM introduced new measures to combat the Omicron variant of coronavirus, The Sunday Times reports.

The Independent – ‘PM tightens rules as new variant found in Britain’

The Independent says the UK’s newly tightened restrictions will be reviewed in three weeks – with Mr Johnson insisting the country is still in a “much, much stronger position” than earlier in the pandemic.

The Sunday Telegraph – ‘PM orders return to masks and isolation’

In unveiling new measures, Boris Johnson said “we need to slow down the seeding” of the Omicron variant – buying time for scientists to establish whether it evades existing vaccines, The Sunday Telegraph writes.

The Observer – ‘PM imposes new curbs to fight Omicron as first case arrives’

The Observer writes that the prime minister has “absolute confidence” this Christmas will be better than the last – despite reimposing a range of restrictions to combat the new, highly transmissible variant of COVID-19.

Also on the front page, an interview with a man whose wife and children were among the 27 people who drowned in the Channel. The story is set against a sombre black background.

Sunday Express – ‘Masks back to fight variant’

Boris Johnson is tightening COVID restrictions in an attempt to save Christmas after the Omicron variant was discovered in the UK, according to the Sunday Express.