UK daily Covid cases have reached nearly 50,000 – amid fears there will be a return to face masks and working from home.
49,139 new cases of corona virus were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 8,589,737 cases.
There were also 179 new deaths, for a total toll of 139,031.
To date, 94,939,084 doses of the Kovid-19 vaccine have been given in the UK.
It comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid will be warning masks to work from home tonight, and vaccine passports to be brought in until more Britons get their booster jabs.
The health secretary will insist that there is no need for new Covid restrictions when he holds the No. 10 press conference at 5 pm.
In a major pandemic update, he wants to reassure Britons that the fight against the virus is under control, despite rising cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
But he will also issue a rallying cry for everyone over the age of 50 to come forward and take their third shot so that new restrictions on daily life are not needed.
He would warn against activating Plan B, which would mean face masks, work from home and vaccine passports cannot be ruled out.
His presence will mark the first Covid press conference for five weeks.
Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Quasi Quarteng insisted he would “deny” the return of the harsh restrictions on travel and our daily lives.
He said the bandh talk is “totally unhelpful” and people should look forward to events like Christmas parties this year “as usual”.
But he also acknowledged that the government is “worried” about the rising number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Asked about some scientists’ calls for another lockdown, he said: “I would dismiss it. I totally think it would be completely wrong.
“Throughout this process people are saying that the lockdown was unnecessary and others are saying that we should continue with the lockdown.
“We actually found a path between those two extremes and it worked.”
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