Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that current Plan B restrictions are ‘the way forward’ in tackling the Omicron variant, ahead of a scheduled review in parliament later this week.

Asked whether resisting further restrictions would risk putting further strain on the NHS, Mr Johnson said the current measures are the right ones to address the virus.

He added that all measures will be kept under review and urged people to “build up defences” by getting third doses of the jab.

People should also take Covid tests “before meeting people you don’t usually meet” and work from home if possible, the Prime Minister said.

Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a vaccination hub at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, he said: “I think the way forward for the country as a whole is to continue with the path that we’re on. We’ll keep everything under review.

“The mixture of things that we’re doing at the moment is, I think, the right one.

“So, number one, continue with Plan B, make sure that people take it seriously, do what we can to stop the spread, use the Plan B measures, work from home if you can, wear a mask on public transport… take a test before going out to meet people you don’t normally meet, think about the requirements under Plan B, but also get the boost.”

It comes as MPs are due to return to the Commons on Wednesday following the Christmas recess. The Government is set to review its Plan B measures on the same date.

The regulations are not due to expire until January 26, but Downing Street said at the point they were announced in December that a review would take place three weeks after implementation.