This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/sep/14/uk-covid-news-boris-johnson-vaccine-booster-winter-plan-coronavirus-latest-updates
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| UK Covid live: Javid unveils winter contingency ‘plan B’ - including vaccine passports and compulsory masks | UK Covid live: Javid unveils winter contingency ‘plan B’ - including vaccine passports and compulsory masks |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Latest updates: follow all the UK politics news and developments | Latest updates: follow all the UK politics news and developments |
| In the Commons earlier Sajid Javid, the health secretary, implied that PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers will be replaced with lateral flow tests. | |
| The Conservative MP Huw Merriman asked him: | |
| Referring to a statement that Grant Shapps is due to make soon about changes to the Covid travel rules, Javid replied: | |
| In his opening statement to MPs, Sajid Javid said: “Whilst we’re not going ahead with mandatory vaccine-only Covid-status certification [aka vaccine passports] now, we will be holding that power in reserve.” | |
| But the autumn and winter plan (pdf) suggests that vaccine passports may be more probable than Javid’s words implied. While stressing that they are just a plan B contingency at this point, it suggests that businesses that might be effected should started making plans for their possible introduction. It says: | |
| The document includes a full half page citing evidence to support the case for Covid passports (on page 24). | |
| The plan reveals that if the government does adopt this scheme, the NHS Covid pass, a feature on the NHS app, will effectively become the Covid passport. At the moment the NHS Covid pass allows people to either show either that they have been fully vaccinated, or that they have had a recent negative test. Under plan B the Covid pass would only show proof of vaccination. | |
| And it sets out the venues that might be covered by a Covid passport: not just nightclubs (as originally proposed by Boris Johnson in July), but indoor venues with more than 500 people in close proximity, outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people in close proximity and any setting with more than 10,000 people. (These are almost exactly the same criteria as apply in Scotland, where Covid passports have already been announced, although the Scots are also mandating them for sexual entertainment venues too.) | |
| At the No 10 lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesman said there was no specific metric for triggering when so-called plan B measures in the winter plan. | At the No 10 lobby briefing the prime minister’s spokesman said there was no specific metric for triggering when so-called plan B measures in the winter plan. |
| Asked whether a new variant, or a certain number of cases per week, would make the government revert to plan B, the spokesman said: | Asked whether a new variant, or a certain number of cases per week, would make the government revert to plan B, the spokesman said: |
| Downing Street has sent journalists its readout from this morning’s cabinet meeting. This is what is says about what Boris Johnson told his ministers about Covid. | Downing Street has sent journalists its readout from this morning’s cabinet meeting. This is what is says about what Boris Johnson told his ministers about Covid. |
| The readout also shows that concerns about supply shortages were discussed at cabinet today. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, gave an update on the problem, and Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, gave details of how driving tests for HGV drivers are being simplified to enable more to be carried out every year. | The readout also shows that concerns about supply shortages were discussed at cabinet today. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, gave an update on the problem, and Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, gave details of how driving tests for HGV drivers are being simplified to enable more to be carried out every year. |
| Brexit is widely seen as contributing to the problem in the UK, but ministers insist that leaving the EU is not to blame and that the shortage of lorry drivers in the UK is part of a Europe-wide problem caused by Covid. The No 10 readout just refers to “HGV driver shortages which have been exacerbated by the pandemic”. | Brexit is widely seen as contributing to the problem in the UK, but ministers insist that leaving the EU is not to blame and that the shortage of lorry drivers in the UK is part of a Europe-wide problem caused by Covid. The No 10 readout just refers to “HGV driver shortages which have been exacerbated by the pandemic”. |
| The government’s autumn and winter Covid plan (pdf) says there is “significant uncertainty” about what will happen later this year and says there is a “plausible” risk of cases rising to an extent that would place the NHS under “unsustainable pressure”. Here is an extract. | The government’s autumn and winter Covid plan (pdf) says there is “significant uncertainty” about what will happen later this year and says there is a “plausible” risk of cases rising to an extent that would place the NHS under “unsustainable pressure”. Here is an extract. |
| The government has released a series of documents from its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) relating to today’s announcement, including minutes (pdf) from a Sage meeting last Thursday. Sage said the pandemic was entering “a period of uncertainty” and it stressed the importance “acting early” if cases rise, to stop the epidemic growing. It said: | The government has released a series of documents from its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) relating to today’s announcement, including minutes (pdf) from a Sage meeting last Thursday. Sage said the pandemic was entering “a period of uncertainty” and it stressed the importance “acting early” if cases rise, to stop the epidemic growing. It said: |
| Sage also says in the minutes that there is “evidence from real-world data in England of waning of vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from approximately 10 weeks after second dose”, although it stresses that protection against hospitalisation and death remains high for at least 20 weeks. | Sage also says in the minutes that there is “evidence from real-world data in England of waning of vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease from approximately 10 weeks after second dose”, although it stresses that protection against hospitalisation and death remains high for at least 20 weeks. |
| David Davis, the Conservative former cabinet minister, asks Javid for an assurance that if the government is “unwise enough” to try to introduce vaccine passports, MPs will get a vote on this. | David Davis, the Conservative former cabinet minister, asks Javid for an assurance that if the government is “unwise enough” to try to introduce vaccine passports, MPs will get a vote on this. |
| Javid says the government wants to work with MPs and that, if it did want to do this, it would come to the house. | Javid says the government wants to work with MPs and that, if it did want to do this, it would come to the house. |
| This is what Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said in his opening statement about the government’s plan B. | This is what Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said in his opening statement about the government’s plan B. |
| The PA Media gallery report says what it describes as “a howl of anguish” was heard from the Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne as Javid read out this passage. Swayne is one of the Conservatives most opposed to lockdown measures. | The PA Media gallery report says what it describes as “a howl of anguish” was heard from the Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne as Javid read out this passage. Swayne is one of the Conservatives most opposed to lockdown measures. |
| This is from the Labour MP Sarah Owen, pointing out the refusal of most Tory MPs in the chamber to wear masks. | This is from the Labour MP Sarah Owen, pointing out the refusal of most Tory MPs in the chamber to wear masks. |
| The Welsh government has confirmed that children aged 12 to 15 in Wales will be offered a Covid vaccination and booster jabs will begin to be rolled out to the most at-risk people. | The Welsh government has confirmed that children aged 12 to 15 in Wales will be offered a Covid vaccination and booster jabs will begin to be rolled out to the most at-risk people. |
| Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, the Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan said: | Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, the Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan said: |
| Morgan said the government was “particularly worried” about pregnant women who haven’t been vaccinated and urged them to speak to their midwife about having the vaccine. | Morgan said the government was “particularly worried” about pregnant women who haven’t been vaccinated and urged them to speak to their midwife about having the vaccine. |
| Morgan said jabs would be offered to 12-15-year-olds at mass vaccination centres and at schools. It would be up to local authorities and health boards to decide the best way in their areas. | Morgan said jabs would be offered to 12-15-year-olds at mass vaccination centres and at schools. It would be up to local authorities and health boards to decide the best way in their areas. |
| She said if there was disagreement between children and parents over whether to have the jab, the Gillick test of competence (which is designed to help professionals decide a child’s capacity) would be applied. “There is a clear process.” She said “child-friendly” information about the pros and cons of the vaccination would be handed out and added: “This is not a compulsory vaccination.” | She said if there was disagreement between children and parents over whether to have the jab, the Gillick test of competence (which is designed to help professionals decide a child’s capacity) would be applied. “There is a clear process.” She said “child-friendly” information about the pros and cons of the vaccination would be handed out and added: “This is not a compulsory vaccination.” |
| Morgan also said she was frustrated that the advice over the booster campaign had not come sooner. “We have been ready to roll for a number of weeks.” Morgan said the booster campaign would be rolled out where possible alongside a flu vaccination campaign. | Morgan also said she was frustrated that the advice over the booster campaign had not come sooner. “We have been ready to roll for a number of weeks.” Morgan said the booster campaign would be rolled out where possible alongside a flu vaccination campaign. |
| The government has now published its 30-page autumn and winter Covid plan. It’s here (pdf). | The government has now published its 30-page autumn and winter Covid plan. It’s here (pdf). |
| Javid is responding to Ashworth. | Javid is responding to Ashworth. |
| He says it is right to have a contingency plan. If pressure on the NHS became unsustainable, the government would move to plan B. | He says it is right to have a contingency plan. If pressure on the NHS became unsustainable, the government would move to plan B. |
| He stresses the importance of vaccination. He says 99% of people who died from Covid in the first half of this year were not vaccinated. | He stresses the importance of vaccination. He says 99% of people who died from Covid in the first half of this year were not vaccinated. |
| He says the flu vaccine will have less efficacy than usual this year (because there was less flu around last year, making it harder to develop an effective vaccine). But he says it is still an effective vaccine. | He says the flu vaccine will have less efficacy than usual this year (because there was less flu around last year, making it harder to develop an effective vaccine). But he says it is still an effective vaccine. |
| He says he has made it clear that the government is not going ahead with vaccine passports. That would be a big decision, and it would have to be justified by data. That government is not going ahead with that. But it will be kept in reserve as an option, he says. | He says he has made it clear that the government is not going ahead with vaccine passports. That would be a big decision, and it would have to be justified by data. That government is not going ahead with that. But it will be kept in reserve as an option, he says. |
| Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, is responding. He asks a series of questions, including: | Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, is responding. He asks a series of questions, including: |
| What level of infection or hospitalisation would trigger plan B? | What level of infection or hospitalisation would trigger plan B? |
| What will the government do to get more young people vaccinated? | What will the government do to get more young people vaccinated? |
| Will the flu vaccine cope with this year’s strain? | Will the flu vaccine cope with this year’s strain? |
| What is the government’s policy on vaccine passports? | What is the government’s policy on vaccine passports? |
| Javid says this is plan A. | Javid says this is plan A. |
| But there is also a plan B, he says, in cases the situation deteriorates. | But there is also a plan B, he says, in cases the situation deteriorates. |
| He says plan B would involve: | He says plan B would involve: |
| Communicating to the public urgently “the need for caution”. | Communicating to the public urgently “the need for caution”. |
| Making face masks compulsory in some settings. | Making face masks compulsory in some settings. |
| Requiring vaccine passports in some settings. | Requiring vaccine passports in some settings. |
| Asking people to work from home. | Asking people to work from home. |
| Javid says some aspects of the Coronavirus Act will also be repealed. | Javid says some aspects of the Coronavirus Act will also be repealed. |
| Javid says the fourth pillar will involve steps to keep seasonal illnesses at bay. That involves encouraging people to meet outdoors where possible and to wear masks in crowded spaces. | Javid says the fourth pillar will involve steps to keep seasonal illnesses at bay. That involves encouraging people to meet outdoors where possible and to wear masks in crowded spaces. |
| He says the fifth pillar involves maintaining border controls. And new rules for foreign travel will be announced by Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, before 1 October, he says. | He says the fifth pillar involves maintaining border controls. And new rules for foreign travel will be announced by Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, before 1 October, he says. |