While it is for the Government to decide on restrictions, NHS leaders are preparing for a dangerous situation

Responding to the Prime Minister's confirmation that further restrictions in England will not be brought in before Christmas but that further measures after Christmas cannot be ruled out, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“It remains a question of when rather than if further restrictions will be brought in to curb the rapid spread of Omicron.

“While it is for the Government to decide national policy on Covid restrictions, many NHS leaders are preparing for a dangerous situation in which rising patient numbers coincide with rising numbers of NHS staff off sick. That is why we must monitor the situation daily and stand ready to respond to changing evidence.

“The best thing the public can do is to continue to behave in ways that will keep themselves and others safe, including taking up the offer of a vaccine or booster if they are eligible.”