Face masks again mandatory in England to combat omicron

LONDON (AP) — New restrictions to combat the omicron variant have taken effect in England, with face masks again compulsory in shops and on public transport. Beginning Tuesday morning, all travelers returning to the U.K. must also take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. The reintroduction of mandatory face masks brings England closer into line with the rest of the U.K. —Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — which had not relaxed coronavirus restrictions as much as England had done last summer. About 14 cases of the omicron variant have so far been identified across the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the new restrictions will “buy us time in the face” of the new variant.