A man wearing a face mask is seen on a bus on Christmas Eve in London, Britain, Dec. 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Britain has reported another 137,583 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 13,235,401, according to official figures released Sunday.
LONDON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Secondary school students in England are once again being asked to wear masks in classrooms as Omicron continues to spread in Britain ahead of children's return to school next week.
The recommendation came as the government pledges to keep face-to-face education going despite surging COVID-19 infections in England.
Masks will "maximize the number of children in school" for the "maximum amount of time," said the British government, stressing the "temporary" guidance for schools and colleges will be reviewed on Jan. 26 when Plan B regulations, which involve guidance to work from home and mandatory face masks in most public indoor venues among others, are scheduled to expire.
Photo taken on Sept. 4, 2020 shows a sign reminding social distancing on a school gate in Berkshire, Britain. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
Britain has reported another 137,583 coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 13,235,401, according to official figures released Sunday.
Britain also reported a further 73 coronavirus-related deaths, taking the national death toll to 148,851.
Cases and deaths data on Sunday only included England and Wales. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland will be updated after the holidays.
More than 90 percent of people aged 12 and over in Britain have had their first vaccine dose, and over 82 percent have received both doses, according to the latest figures. Some 59 percent have received a booster jab, or the third dose.
A man receives a vaccine jab at NHS (National Health Service) COVID Vaccine Center at Wembley Stadium in London, Britain, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)■
