London, Dec 9 (TIWN) The UK will move to "Plan B" restrictions to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant this winter, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced.

Britain's Health Minister confirmed the country's first cases on Saturday, saying both were connected to travel to southern Africa.   Germany's cases were identified in the southern state of Bavaria, after two travellers entered Munich airport before the country designated South Africa as a virus-variant area.  Cases of the new variant, which was first detected in South Africa, have also been reported in travellers in Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.  UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new measures to curb the spread of Omicron, including PCR tests for travellers and tighter mask requirements.  He said Britain was still in a "much, much stronger position" to tackle the new variant because of its vaccination program, but added it was time to step up booster jabs.   A host of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada Iran, Japan, Thailand and the United States, have joined others, including the European Union and the UK, in imposing restrictions on southern African countries in response to warnings over the transmissibility of the new variant — against the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO).