The British government is reportedly preparing plans for a two-week “circuit breaker” lockdown before the end of the year amid doomsday predictions from scientific advisors of up to 5,000 deaths per day from the Omicron variant of the Chinese coronavirus. Leaked lockdown proposals would see England return to the restrictions imposed as the “Step 2” plan enacted after the winter shutdown last year. Under the plans, ministers are said to be considering reimposing a ban on indoor mixing, with exceptions carved out for workplaces, according to The Times of London.