In this morning’s Covid updates, NHS Confederation Director General Matthew Taylor urged the government to implement ‘Plan B’ and come up with ‘Plan C’ as coronavirus cases increase.

But business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng rules out “plan B” and tells people to “book your Christmas party”.

Here are the headlines of the coronavirus from Wednesday, October 20.

Go here for the latest coronavirus updates and the latest Covid-19 news

Apply plan B immediately or risk a winter crisis, warns NHS boss

Ministers must immediately enforce ‘Plan B’ coronavirus restrictions or ‘risk falling into a winter crisis,’ an NHS leader warned.

Amid the increase in Covid-19 cases, Matthew Taylor, Director General of the NHS Confederation, urged the government to implement the safeguard strategy which involves measures, including the return of mandatory face coverings in public places.

The NHS Confederation warning comes as coronavirus deaths in the UK hit their highest daily level since early March, while cases are at their highest for nearly three months.

Mr Taylor said the NHS was preparing for what could be “the most difficult winter on record” and urged the public to “show extra support for the NHS” by “behaving in a way that ensures their safety and that of others “.

He added: “It is time for the government to immediately promulgate plan B of its strategy because without preventive action, we risk falling into a winter crisis.

“Additionally, health officials need to understand what a ‘plan C’ would entail if these measures were insufficient.

“The government should not wait for Covid infections to explode and NHS pressures to be very high before the panic alarm sounds.”

Downing Street said he was monitoring “very closely” the increase in case rates, but added that the Prime Minister had “absolutely no plan to introduce Plan B”, which could also involve the introduction of vaccine passports for entering a nightclub.

Today, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng also ruled out any closure during the winter and said the holiday season will see celebrations “as usual”.

Kwasi Kwarteng rules out winter confinement

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng ruled out any closure during the winter and assured people the holiday season can continue “as usual” this year.

When asked if he would book a Christmas party, he told Times Radio: “Absolutely, I think I’ve done it before.

“We’ve made some arrangements and can’t wait to have a Christmas party as usual.”

What would happen under “Plan B” if the government implemented it?

‘Plan B’ is a set of ’emergency’ measures designed to protect the NHS and would be implemented if a need were ‘supported by the data’.

Under plan B:

• The public would be informed “clearly and urgently” of the need to exercise caution to help control the virus

• Legally mandated coatings are reportedly making a comeback in some contexts and the work-at-home mandate could be reintroduced

• The government also has the option to make COVID vaccine certificates mandatory in certain scenarios

Plan B is designed to ‘prevent unsustainable pressure on the NHS’ but would be a hard sell for some Tory backbench MPs, especially those in the COVID Recovery Group who are against limitations on freedoms.

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