GUEST: Jonathan Reynolds MP, Shadow Business Secretary
Boris Johnson is expected to announce an easing of England’s coronavirus restrictions as he battles to save his premiership.
The Prime Minister and his Cabinet will examine the latest Covid-19 data on Wednesday morning before making a statement in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon.
England’s Plan B measures - which include guidance to work from home, the use of the Covid pass and mandatory mask wearing in shops and on public transport - are set to expire on January 26.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs on Tuesday that he was “cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce restrictions next week”.
No final decisions have yet been made, although any attempt to extend the restrictions beyond the cut-off date would trigger a fresh confrontation with Tory MPs, something the Prime Minister would wish to avoid as his position has already been weakened due to the row over Downing Street parties.
Asked whether restrictions would be lifted during a visit to a hospital on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: “We’ve got to be careful about Covid. We’ve got to continue to remember that it’s a threat.”
A total of 19,450 people were in hospital in the UK with Covid-19 as of January 17, Government figures show.
This is down 2% week-on-week, though the total has risen slightly in the most recent two days.
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1 окт 2024
