What is Covid Plan B and what are the rules across the UK this winter?
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Image source, Getty ImagesOpposition politicians have joined calls for stricter Covid restrictions to be introduced in England, including working from home and compulsory masks.
However, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the data does not currently suggest "immediately moving to Plan B".
Who's calling for Plan B and why?
Daily Covid cases have risen to 50,000 and Health Secretary Sajid Javid says they could double.
The Labour Party has now joined a number of organisations who last week called for some sort of action:
- The government's scientific advisory group, Sage, said plans for reintroducing stricter Covid restrictions in England should be prepared for "rapid deployment"
- The NHS Confederation said it was necessary to stop the health service from "stumbling into a winter crisis"
- The British Medical Association accused the government of being "wilfully negligent"
Does Plan B mean another lockdown?
The health secretary said in September that the government could bring in extra measures in England - if necessary - to protect the NHS from "unsustainable pressure":
- Communicating clearly and urgently to the public that the level of risk has increased, and the need to behave more cautiously
- Introducing mandatory Covid passports
- Making face coverings compulsory again
- Advising people to work from home
These proposals - Plan B - would only bring England effectively in line with restrictions still in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The government has consistently said there are no plans for another lockdown in England.
It argues that because of the success of the vaccination programme, relatively small changes could have a big impact.
What could trigger Plan B?
No single event or set of figures would necessarily trigger Plan B, but the government said it would monitor:
- hospitalisations
- rapid rates of change in figures
- the overall state of the NHS
Mr Javid said this week there were no plans to bring in Plan B "at this point", but warned restrictions were more likely if vaccine take-up faltered.
More than four million people have now had a booster jab in England, but across the UK as a whole, 14% of people aged over 12 are still unvaccinated.
The government has denied newspaper reports its is considering a "Plan C", which could ban mixing between households.
What's Plan A?
Plan A is the winter strategy currently in operation in England:
- offering Covid booster jabs to about 30 million people
- offering healthy 12 to 15-year-olds a single vaccine dose
- encouraging unvaccinated people to get jabbed
- NHS Test and Trace continues and PCR and lateral flow tests remain free
- encouraging free flu jab take-up
- reminding people to let in fresh air when meeting indoors, to wash their hands, and to wear face coverings in crowded places
What restrictions are currently in place in England?
- 1m-plus social distancing guidance remains in places such as hospitals and passport control
- Face coverings no longer required by law, but the government "expects and recommends" them in crowded/enclosed spaces
- Some shops and transport operators still require masks
- People who've been working from home should return to the workplace gradually
Image source, ReutersWhat's Wales' winter plan?
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford has set out two planning scenarios:
- Covid Stable, where Wales remains at the present alert level zero
- Covid Urgent, where there's a sudden deterioration in cases
Under Covid Urgent, previously drawn up "alert levels" - including level four lockdown - could be reintroduced.
Current restrictions include:
- Working from home wherever possible
- Face coverings compulsory on public transport, and in shops and hospitals - but not bars/restaurants
- College and secondary school staff and students should keep testing regularly
- Face masks no longer advised in schools, but still recommended in crowded spaces like school buses
- NHS Covid Pass needed for entry to nightclubs, as well as many indoor and outdoor events
Extending the use of Covid passes for a wider range of venues is being considered by ministers.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat's Northern Ireland's winter plan?
The Northern Ireland executive's autumn/winter Covid contingency plan calls for:
- continuing legal requirement for face coverings in public indoor settings
- continuing legal requirement for risk assessments
- recording of visitor details to support the Test, Trace and Protect system
- focus on flexible and hybrid working to limit contacts
The executive set out a range of possible measures it could deploy if hospital pressures become "unsustainable":
- focused communication emphasising the risk and the need for immediate action
- the introduction of Covid passports in "higher risk settings"
- strengthened arrangements for self-isolation for close contacts
- a return to mandatory social distancing
What restrictions are currently in place in Northern Ireland?
- Up to 30 people from any number of households can mix indoors in domestic settings
- Up to four people from no more than two households can visit care homes (maximum of four visits per week)
- Face coverings compulsory in shops, indoor seated venues and visitor attractions
- Indoor seated venues "strongly recommended" (but not legally obliged) to ask for proof of double vaccination or a negative lateral flow test
- Dancing not permitted at indoor venues where music is played (apart from weddings and civil ceremonies)
- Face coverings mandatory on public transport and some other settings, unless you are exempt
- Work from home where possible
- Social distancing in hospitality settings remain in place until 31 October
- Nightclubs remain closed until 31 October
What's the situation in Scotland?
- Physical distancing rules remain in healthcare settings such as hospitals, GP surgeries and dentists, where the 2m (6ft) rule applies
- Face coverings still compulsory on public transport and inside places like shops
- Indoor hospitality venues must collect customer contact details
- Keep working from home where possible
- Large event organisers (5,000 outdoors, 2,000 indoors) must apply for permission
- All school staff and secondary pupils to wear face coverings indoors
- No large in-person lectures at colleges and universities
- All over-18s required to prove their vaccine status at nightclubs and other venues