Meanwhile, ministers have reportedly pushed back against calls from scientific advisers for new measures to tackle the Omicron variant before Christmas.

Around one third of the cabinet are said to be reluctant to support new restrictions in the coming days, with Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak among them, according to The Times.

The British government's advisory scientists have warned extra restrictions are needed "within days" to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by Omicron.

More than 89 percent of people aged 12 and over in Britain have had their first vaccine dose and over 81 percent have received both, according to the latest figures. Some 50.4 percent have received the booster dose, or the third dose.