Face coverings and vaccine passes if Covid cases surge

A surge in Covid-19 cases this winter could see people in England ordered to wear face masks and show passes to prove their vaccination status.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the measures are part of a ‘Plan B’ if efforts to control the spread of coronavirus – including a massive booster vaccination programme–arenoteffective.

He said contingency plans will only be activated if there is"unsustainable"pressureon the NHS in England.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson later refused to give specific details on how bad a future wave of Covid-19 must get for the Government to impose ‘Plan B’.

He told a Downing Street press conference the plan has “anumberofdifferentshotsin the locker”.

“You wouldn’t necessarily play them all at once, far from it,youwouldwanttodothings in a graduated way,” he said,

“We’re now in a situation when because so many of the population have some degree of immunity, smaller changes inthewaywe’reaskingpeople tobehavecanhaveabiggerimpact.”

MrJohnsonsaidcoronavirus vaccine passports would have been a “game changer” for businesses last year, and insisted they must remain “an important part of our repertoire”.

As part of the "Plan A" for autumn and winter:

:: A booster vaccination campaign will begin next week.

:: Mr Javid said it is "highly likely" that frontline NHS staff and those in wider social care settings will need to have Covid-19 and flu vaccinations in order to be deployed.

:: People will be encouragedtomeetoutdoorsoropen windows if indoors, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed settings and use the NHS Covid-19 app.

:: Businesses are urged to consider using the Covid pass to check the vaccination or test status of customers.

Mr Javid told MPs: "We have seen how quickly this virus can adapt and change so we have prepared a Plan B of contingencymeasuresthatwe can call upon only if they are needed and supported by the datatopreventunsustainable pressure on the NHS."

Those measures could include a legal requirement to wear face coverings in some settings and advice to work from home.