Crowds of Christmas shoppers, some wearing face masks and others not, inside the Bull Ring Shopping Centre as the emergence of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant continues on 12th December 2021 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Restrictions increased approximately 2 weeks ago, making face coverings mandatory in shops and on public transport. Despite the new rules, the majority of people are not wearing masks outside in crowded shopping areas nor inside the shopping centre.