London nightclub owners pan UK's new COVID-19 rules for venues

FILE PHOTO: People enjoy their time at a nightclub, as part of a national research programme assessing the risk of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission, in Liverpool, Britain April 30, 2021. REUTERS/Carl Recine/File Photo

(Reuters) - Nightclub owners in London criticised new restrictions to halt the spread of coronavirus variants that will go into effect on Wednesday, saying that a lack of rapid COVID-19 tests will make enforcement a "big challenge".

Last week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new "Plan B" measures to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant, including the use of COVID-19 vaccine passes to enter some venues such as nightclubs and settings with larger crowds. Negative rapid tests, known as lateral flow tests, will also be accepted.