Act to cut COVID cases early to avoid tougher measures later, UK PM's advisers say

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective face mask walks during the morning rush hour, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in London, Britain, October 20, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson should prepare to introduce some measures to limit rising COVID-19 cases as acting early will reduce the need for tougher restrictions later, his scientific advisers said in advice published on Friday.

Johnson's government has said there is no need yet to introduce a "Plan B" involving mask mandates, work from home orders and vaccine passports, even as cases rise after he scrapped England's COVID restrictions in the summer.