New Covid-19 restrictions came into force today in England, with Oxford shoppers seemingly in favour of the measures.

The Government announced the rules on Saturday evening at a Downing Street press conference amid concerns about the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.  

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new restrictions will be reviewed in three weeks and described them as "temporary and precautionary".

READ MORE: COVID: new restrictions put in place amid Omicron variant

The measures come as cases of the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa, have been identified in the UK.

From today, these are the new restrictions.

  • Masks are mandatory in shops and on public transport but not in hospitality settings such as pubs and restaurants.
  • People who test positive for the Omicron variant must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
  • All international arrivals entering England must take a day 2 PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

As well as these measures, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola were added to the UK’s travel red list on Sunday morning when they joined South Africa and five other neighbouring nations.

This afternoon, the Oxford Mail visited the Westgate centre, Cornmarket and the train station to speak with people about the new rules and who is following them.

In the city centre signs in shop windows show a drawing of a person wearing a mask, with ‘You MUST wear a FACE COVERING in this store’ written above.

At Oxford Train Station a man called Jack said he believes the Government are responding quickly to the new variant.

He said: “[The Government] are responding quickly to stuff and that is one thing they have been poor with.

“But I think it is too early to say whether it is going to work or not, I do not think people will listen.”

He added that the new rule changes will just irritate average people.

Jack explained that although he is wearing his mask according to Government guidance he is not being “overly cautious”.

This is Oxfordshire: Government guidance signs are now being displayed in shops in the city centreGovernment guidance signs are now being displayed in shops in the city centre

One woman, who was sitting outside the Westgate centre and wished to remain anonymous, told the Oxford Mail has had to wear masks all year at university while in lectures.

She said: “I think I agree, obviously it is a bit annoying to wear in shops and in the cinema.”

However, she was happy to wear her mask if it “will prevent another lockdown”.

On the other hand Rowan Latimer, 17, respects wearing masks in shops but does not want wear them in open spaces.

He explained masks make him feel suffocated and he suffers panic attacks when he wears them. 

Two other young women, who did not wish to be named, said they did not know much about the new rules beside the changes for masks.

They said that in general they agree with the mask mandate but it is “annoying” to go from not wearing them to having to put them on in shops.

One of the women added that they believe the rules should have been “stricter in the first place” and that people should not be going abroad at the moment.

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