As Covid cases hit a record 218,724 yesterday, bin collections delayed, trains were cancelled and several hospitals in Greater Manchester saying they would suspend non-urgent surgeries.
Boris Johnson is gathering ministers to sign off on sticking to Plan B restrictions, after batting away mounting calls for the quarantine period to be cut from seven days to five.
Boris Johnson tonight all-but ruled out another lockdown and held out the prospect of a return closer to normality within weeks amid hopes the Omicron wave is already slowing down.
Almost every part of British life has been hit by people quarantining at home because of Omicron - but the Government is still refusing to slash self-isolation from seven days to five days.