Downing Street says it is “keeping an eye on” the rise in Covid cases, but the government has not yet discussed implementing its Plan B to control the coronavirus in England this winter.
Daily cases exceeded 40,000 for seven consecutive days, with 43,738 new Covid cases reported on Tuesday.
A further 223 deaths have been recorded, the highest since March, although daily figures are often largest on Tuesdays.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the government that the UK is facing “a difficult winter”.
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According to the government’s winter plan, if the measures currently in place are not sufficient to prevent “unsustainable pressure” on the NHS, then measures such as making face coverings mandatory in some contexts and introducing vaccine passports could be considered part of the Plan. B.
The prime minister told ministers that the government has “a plan in place to lead the country during this time” and that people should “continue to follow the lead and take their hits when called”.
Downing Street said Johnson stressed that the government’s autumn and winter plan “continues to keep the virus in check.”
No 10 said the government “was not satisfied” with the increase in cases but that, due to the vaccination schedule, “the levels we are seeing in both hospitalized patients and deaths are much lower than what we have. seen in the previous peaks “.
The seven-day average of new Covid cases in the UK went from around 34,000 per day in early October to 44,145 cases per day.
And the number of people in hospital across the UK who have Covid has increased by 10% in one week, from 7,039 on 11 October to 7,749 on Monday.
The number of deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test reported on Tuesday was the highest since March 9, although due to delays in reporting over the weekend, daily figures are often higher than on Tuesday.
“We are clearly keeping an eye on rising case rates,” the prime minister’s spokesman said.
He said there were “no plans” to use the Plan B emergency measures, but stressed that the most important message to the public was “the vital importance of the recall program and indeed for those children who are eligible. to come forward and get our jab “.
Children aged 12-15 in England will be able to book their vaccines at vaccination centers, as well as through school, after concerns about implementation delays.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that young teens would be able to book their vaccinations outside of school to “make the most of the semester.”
Earlier, Professor Neil Ferguson, a member of the government’s Emergency Science Advisory Group (Sage), said it was “critical” to speed up the booster vaccination program, as well as for younger teens to receive a vaccine.
He said there was no reason to “panic right now”, but “people need to be aware that we currently have higher levels of infection in the community than we hardly ever had during the pandemic.”
Northern Ireland announced its plan for fall and winter on Tuesday, which will see face coverings remain a legal requirement in crowded indoor spaces.
The Welsh government has already set its plans for the winter, with Prime Minister Mark Drakeford saying Christmas this year is likely to be more normal.
Scotland has left a winter vaccination strategy and already has measures such as compulsory proof of vaccination status in night clubs and masks in schools.
Meanwhile, officials say they are monitoring a new offspring of Covid’s Delta variant, which is causing an increasing number of infections.
Downing Street said “there is no evidence to suggest it spreads more easily.”
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