The rapid spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus put the brakes on the industry’s ongoing recovery last month with warnings that sites may have to temporarily close if too many workers are being forced to self-isolate under new covid rules.

According to the latest IHS Markit/CIPS report for construction output, the growing number of cases and people being forced to self-isolate blunted growth in December with the index posting a score 54.3 – down from 55.5 in November – which was the weakest growth for three months.

…