Sajid Javid has said there is 'nothing in the data' that suggests the UK will move away from Plan B restrictions.
The government is this week expected to review the current restrictions, which include mandatory face coverings in most public settings, working from home and the use of Covid Passes in large venues.
However, the health secretary has hinted that the measures will stay in place for now as the NHS deals with an increase in the number of people being hospitalised with Covid.
It comes as Boris Johnson is set to hold a Downing Street press conference this afternoon after No 10 admitted that the health service is facing a “difficult time” during a “challenging winter”.
Mr Javid told reporters today that there is nothing in the data at this point that “suggests that we need to move away from Plan B”.
Speaking to broadcasters after a visit at a vaccination centre in south London, Mr Javid said: “There’s nothing in data at this point that suggests that we need to move away from Plan B.
“I think Plan B, implementing that, has been the right approach and also being absolutely focused on the vaccination programme.”
Mr Javid noted “getting to over 75 per cent of eligible adults getting boosted is fantastic” but insisted “we still need to get through to that other 25 per cent and that can really make a difference in how this country gets through this pandemic”.
He added that the government is not looking at cutting the self-isolation period for those who test positive to five days.
“Our decisions are based on the very latest evidence," Mr Javid said.
“So we’re quite clear where we are with your seven days, but you know, you need those two negative lateral flow tests in the final two days, is the right balanced proportionate approach.”
Earlier today, chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson said at least “half a dozen” NHS hospitals have declared a critical incident as they try to respond to Covid.
Commenting on the reports, Mr Javid said: “The latest information I have from this morning but I do get updated on it regularly was around six trusts but that may have changed because I know that this is a very fast-moving situation.”
The latest NHS England figures show 14,210 patients with Covid-19 were in hospital on January 3, including 777 requiring mechanical ventilation.
Meanwhile, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the staffing situation in hospitals is “almost impossible”.
He told Times Radio that, for many, “the most pressing element of all” is the number of staff who are absent due to Covid.
He added that hospital admissions seem to have “perhaps plateaued in London or there may be a second peak after the new year now, but it’s rising across the rest of Britain”.
When asked about the problem of staff absences in the NHS and if the military could help, Mr Javid noted the military is “helping already in vaccination centres across the country”.
He added: “For instance, with that delivery, the NHS is getting a huge amount of support from volunteers and others as well.
“But the NHS is also widely using an emergency list of workers that has been able to develop over the pandemic so far, and then call on clinicians and others that may have retired for example, to come back and help.
“Also the NHS Reserves Programme is something that the Government set up with the NHS.
“We piloted it in six regions across England and now it’s being rolled out nationally and that’s helping as well.”
