PM says evidence does not support ‘Plan B’

BORIS Johnson said he has seen no evidence to indicate a Christmas lockdown is “on the cards”, as he once again insisted that ministers are sticking with the current plan to tackle coronavirus.

The Prime Minister said that, despite high case numbers, there is currently no reason to activate the Government’s Covid-19 ‘Plan B’.

Speaking to reporters during his trip to the G20 summit in Rome, the Prime Minister said only the Labour Party wanted tighter restrictions at the present time.

Asked if he could guarantee a good Christmas, he did not answer directly, saying: “I see no evidence whatever to think that any kind of lockdown is on the cards.” His comments follow calls by the NHS Confederation and the British Medical Association, as well as a number of prominent scientists, for the Government to take steps to ease the growing pressures on the health service.

Coronavirus infection levels have risen across the UK, with the most recent estimates from the Office for National Statistics showing the same proportion of people in England have Covid-19 as at the peak of the second wave. Despite the prevalence of the virus across the four nations, hospital admissions and deaths remain well below levels seen during the second wave in January, with the vaccine roll-out credited as being the reason why.

Moving to Plan B for England would mean the return to working at home advice and the mandatory wearing of face masks, as well as the introduction of so-called vaccine passports. The Prime Minister said that, while the Government was closely monitoring the situation, there was no need to act at this stage.

“We’re watching the numbers every day. Yes it’s true that cases are high. But they do not currently constitute any reason to go to Plan B,” he said. “I think it’s agreed among absolutely everybody, apart from possibly the Labour Party, so we’re sticking with the plan.”

Mr Johnson repeated his call for the over 50s to have the booster jab amid concern the protection provided by the vaccines is waning, particularly among older age groups.

“I think, rather than thinking new restrictions, the best thing everybody can do is get that booster jab as soon as you’re offered it,” he said.

“It’s a very important message. I think people don’t quite realise that the first two jabs do start to wane.

“How sad, how tragic it would be if people who had other complications, other compromises, in their health got seriously ill because they were overconfident about their level of immunity and didn’t get their booster when they needed it So please, please, please, can everybody get their boosters.”

His comments come as health teams are preparing to visit more than 800 schools across the country this week to offer children aged 12-15 a coronavirus vaccine.

NHS England said more than 600,000 young people have been vaccinated since the jabs roll-out was extended at the end of September to include that age group. Pupils returning after the October half-term break are also being advised to take a coronavirus test to try and minimise disruption to lessons and to ensure families can “enjoy the best” of the festive season.