Boris Johnson says hospitals are under pressure for the next few weeks but Plan B hasn’t changed

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The prime minister said the pressure on the NHS for the “next two weeks and maybe more” would be “substantial”, but said the plan had not changed.

Speaking on a visit to the Gutman Center vaccination center at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, he said the variant of the Omicron coronavirus was “clearly milder” than the other strains.

But, he said, “there is no doubt that Omicron continues to rise across the country.”

He added: “I think we have to realize that the pressure on the NHS, on our hospitals, is going to be huge within the next two weeks, maybe more.”

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Mr Johnson said the enhanced program and Plan B actions had made a difference.

He added, “There are still a lot of people who have taken a double hit, but they haven’t got a third hit. The third hit makes a big, big difference.”

It comes after ministers said there was “nothing” in the data to suggest further restrictions on Covid were necessary at this time.

MPs will review the current Covid restrictions on Wednesday.

In an interview on Monday, Education Minister Nadim Zahawi said there was nothing in the data to suggest that restrictions should go ahead.

“At the moment, there is nothing in the data that would suggest to me, to us, that we need to move forward,” he told Sky News.

Instead, Prime Minister Johnson has reportedly asked ministers to work around the clock to develop “robust contingency plans” for the worst possible scenario.

Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, insisted that there were no plans to introduce new restrictions due to the success of the Plan B measures.

Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay leads contingency planning

/ Palestinian Authority Archive

Mr Barclay said: “The government has met over the Christmas period to prepare for every eventuality.

“Obviously we have seen significant absences during the period leading up to this, but it is important that these contingency plans are updated and that we take measures to mitigate those impacts.”

He added: “Of course, we are keeping the data under review, but we have seen a marked change in behavior as a result of Plan B. The widespread use of the test is evidence of the fact that the British public is taking reasonable steps to keep themselves safe, to keep their friends and family safe.”

Health Minister Ed Argar said the government was “doing the responsible and reasonable thing” by asking the public sector to prepare for a worst-case scenario of up to a quarter of employees out of work.

On Sunday, Argar said he sees “nothing” in the current data to indicate that more action is needed at present.

He told Radio Times: “Restrictions or restrictions should be an absolute last resort. At the moment I see nothing in the data in front of me, in the immediate situation, which indicates the need for more restrictions. But this data is changing day by day.”

Members of Parliament are due to return to the House of Commons on Wednesday after the Christmas holiday. The government is scheduled to review Plan B measures on the same date.

Minister of Education Nadim Al-Zahawi

/ PA wire

High school students are required to take lateral flow exams twice a week as students return to class.

Face masks must also be worn when schools reopen.

“Facing face-to-face learning is undoubtedly the best place for the education and well-being of children and young people, and my priority remains to keep early years settings, schools, colleges and universities open so that face-to-face education can continue,” Al-Zahawi said.

Last month, the government urged schools to ask former teachers to temporarily return to classrooms to help alleviate staffing shortages.

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