Boris Johnson’s Cupboard to satisfy to overview Covid ‘plan B’ guidelines

Boris Johnson’s and his Cupboard will meet on Wednesday morning to overview whether or not to elevate the federal government’s “plan B” Covid measures – with an announcement due in parliament within the afternoon.

Forward of the assembly, Sajid Javid advised MPs he was “cautiously optimistic” that laws may very well be “considerably lowered” and that the height of the Omicron wave had handed.

The principles, which apply to England, embrace obligatory masks sporting in faculties and on public transport, in addition to working from house the place doable.

If it does ditch the laws, the federal government is nevertheless anticipated to maintain in place guidelines on self-isolation, and controls to worldwide journey.

“Eight weeks in the past when this home final met for well being and social care questions, the world had not even heard of the Omicron variant, but since then we now have seen a 3rd of the UK’s whole variety of Covid-19 circumstances recorded,” Mr Javid mentioned within the Commons on Tuesday.

“The motion that this authorities has taken in response to Omicron and the collective efforts of the British folks have seen us grow to be probably the most boosted nation in Europe, probably the most examined nation in Europe, and probably the most antivirals per head in Europe.

“That’s the reason we’re probably the most open nation in Europe. I’ve all the time mentioned that these restrictions shouldn’t keep in place a day longer than completely vital.”

He added: “Attributable to these pharmaceutical defences and the chance that we now have already reached the height of the case numbers of hospitalisations, I’m cautiously optimistic that we will considerably scale back restrictions subsequent week.”

Round 17,000 sufferers are nonetheless in hospital in England with Covid, and circumstances are nonetheless excessive, with 94,432 new infections within the 24 hours earlier than 9am on Tuesday. Some 438 deaths have been recorded in the identical interval, with 1,904 within the final seven days.

Forward of the Cupboard assembly, a authorities spokesperson mentioned a call on the subsequent steps “stay finely balanced”.

“Plan B was carried out in December to gradual the speedy unfold of the extraordinarily transmissible Omicron variant, and get extra jabs in arms,” they mentioned.

“The Omicron variant continues to pose a major menace and the pandemic will not be over.

“Infections stay excessive however the newest knowledge is encouraging, with circumstances starting to fall. Vaccines stay our greatest line of defence and we urge folks to return ahead, to provide themselves the very best safety.”