COVID-19: Boris Johnson unveils winter plan warns pandemic is not over | UK news

[ad_1]

Boris Johnson will unveil an ambitious winter plan to fight COVID-19 – including boosters and flu vaccinations for millions – at a later date.

The prime minister promises a shot at lockdown restrictions, but will keep the threat of mandatory face masks and vaccine passports in reserve.

Other restrictions such as compulsory work at home and social distancing are not excluded in the event of a sudden jump in COVID cases.

In a speech in Downing Street, Johnson will announce he is firmly against another lockdown and suggest that the UK must learn to live with COVID now that a vaccine has been introduced for all adults.

Other changes are expected to include the abolition of the “traffic light” system for travel abroad, and the abolition of post-holiday PCR tests in double-risk countries and a smaller number of “red list” high-risk countries.

The winter plan comes on the heels of a late-night House of Commons announcement by Vaccines Minister Nadim Zahawi that the government has agreed to a recommendation from UK medical officials to introduce a vaccine to children aged 12 to 15.

“The pandemic is not over yet,” Johnson warned, ahead of the House of Commons statement by Health Minister Sajid Javid and a Downing Street press conference in which he will outline his plans.

“But thanks to our massive vaccine program, new treatments and tests, we can live with the virus without significant restrictions on our freedoms.

“Today I will make a clear plan for the fall and winter, when the virus will have a natural advantage, to protect the gains we’ve made.”

The booster scheme would mean a third vaccine dose for millions of older adults to slow down winter infections, with the over-80s and vulnerable groups ranked first, followed by all groups over the fifties.

The government says its fall and winter plan will set a renewed focus on vaccines as the first line of defence, backed by testing, public health advice and surveillance.

Claiming that UK vaccines are highly effective, the prime minister will reveal that analysis by Public Health England indicates that two doses have prevented 2,4702,000 infections and 112,300 deaths as of August 27.

Ministers have now received final advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization on the booster programme, which is expected to be launched later this month.

Mr Johnson will outline how the program will be rolled out for the most vulnerable, but emphasizes that the booster program is separate from the third initial dose program for those who have weaker immune systems and find it difficult to fight infection.

In response to claims that they have been slow to act, ministers insist that all evidence and data have been kept under constant review, with the plan representing the latest advice to control the virus.

Ministers also claim that the number of deaths and hospitalizations in England has remained relatively stable over the past month.

As a result, the government is working to scale back emergency Covid-19 laws that were passed early in the pandemic, with a vaccine now being offered to every adult.

This would include the ability to close or limit access to schools, detain infected people, restrict events and gatherings, or limit how large groups of people can be.

But to the chagrin and anger of many Conservative MPs, the government plans to keep the powers of the Public Health Act, under which lockdowns have been legally enforced, in the statute book.

Please use Chrome browser for an accessible video player

The decision to vaccinate children ‘difficult’

Later in the week, the complex system of traffic lights for travel, which has been expanded to include the “Green Watch List” and “Amber Plus”, will likely be replaced by just two categories, a Red List where quarantines of hotels and countries in which he travels remains permitted.

The abolition of costly PCR tests for people penalized for returning from holidays abroad would be widely welcomed. They will be replaced by cheaper lateral flow tests. The number of “red list” countries – currently 62 – is likely to be significantly reduced.

Ahead of the announcement, the Liberal Democrats had called on the prime minister to ensure that schools were not closed again as part of a winter plan after last year’s chaos.

“The Conservatives have failed our children throughout this pandemic,” said party leader Sir Ed Davey.

“Disciples have missed millions of days of vital teaching, and their parents are left to pick up things.

“Boris Johnson must give parents a cast-iron guarantee that schools will remain open this winter so that the younger generations will not fail again.”

The Royal College of Nursing’s general secretary and chief executive, Pat Cullen, said: “Government must send the right message that it will support nursing staff by following the data when it comes to restrictions that can help protect the NHS and care services.

“As we enter the winter period, the numbers of COVID cases are steadily increasing. Health and care services are already facing tremendous pressure by having to offer a flu vaccination programme, treating patients with prolonged COVID and addressing the massive backlog of NHS cases.”

[ad_2]