The Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that whilst Covid cases could reach 100,000 a day but there were no plans at the moment to implement Plan B

Vaccinations are the primary way to control the virus Javid said, encouraging all those who had yet to be vaccinated to come forward and for people to get their booster jabs when called.

He emphasised that the public can help by wearing masks in crowded places or where there was poor ventilation.

We’ve always known that the winter months would pose the greatest threat on the road to our recovery – the darker skies, the colder weather provide perfect conditions not just for Covid-19 to thrive but other seasonal viruses too like flu and norovirus,”

We’ll do what it takes to make sure this pressure doesn’t become unsustainable and we don’t allow the NHS to become mercifully overwhelmed. Deaths remain mercifully low, but they are still sadly over 100 a day.”

Javid said that he did not believe that the NHS was at the moment under unsustainable pressure but said that if the pressure “at any point” is considered unsustainable, “the Government will not hesitate to act”.

He added that the reopening of British society and “precious moments” in recent months have been possible through the vaccination rollout.

“If we want to secure these freedoms for the long term then the best thing we can do is come forward once again when that moment comes. After the decisive steps we’ve taken this year none of us want to go backwards now

The Press Conference came amid calls for the Government to implement its so called Plan B

The NHS Confederation says a back-up strategy, or Plan B, which includes mandatory face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces, should be implemented due to rising Covid cases and pressure on NHS services.

Earlier The government said that it will continue to monitor the latest figures for the virus but hospital admissions and deaths are still “substantially lower” than they were earlier in the year.

“The important thing is the fact that our vaccination programme has has been successful in breaking the link between cases and hospitalisations and deaths,” he adds.

“Our focus remains on ensuring ensuring we get boosters out to those who are eligible.”

Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, said the Government was “concerned” about the slow uptake of booster jabs in light of rising Covid cases.

But ruling out further lockdowns, Mr Kwarteng said that ministers “don’t want to go back into further restrictions” and noted there were no vaccines this time last year.

“I think the conversation about restrictions on travel, restrictions on more lockdowns is completely unhelpful,” he told Sky News. “The vaccine has changed our total approach to this and has given us a measure of security that is very important. I would rule lockdowns out.

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