UK health secretary unveils winter plan to tackle Covid
September 14, 2021, 11:58 am

UK health secretary unveils winter plan to tackle Covid

corona with UK flag

The BBC reported, the health secretary has unveiled the government's plan for tackling Covid during autumn and winter in England.

Sajid Javid said it included offering booster jabs to those most at risk from the virus and maximising uptake among those who have not yet had the vaccine.

According to the BBC, ministers have also prepared a "Plan B" if measures are needed to prevent "unsustainable pressure" on the NHS.

It said, this could include compulsory face coverings in certain settings and asking people to work from home.

The government's winter plan says, but "more harmful economic and social restrictions would only be considered as a last resort."

Under what ministers describe as "Plan A", the main defences against Covid include encouraging the unvaccinated to get the jab, vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds and beginning a booster programme.

woman laugh in UK-

Mr Javid told the Commons, testing, tracing of cases and self-isolation for those who catch the virus would be another vital defence.

Businesses are also being encouraged to consider using the NHS Covid Pass to check the vaccination status of customers.

Mr Javid also said it was highly likely frontline NHS staff and those in wider social care settings will need to have Covid-19 and flu vaccinations in order to be deployed.

The health secretary added that the government would be "keeping an open mind" and waiting for the results of a consultation but he believed this would be "an important step in protecting those at greatest risk".

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He said a "Plan B" had also been prepared with measures "that we can call upon only if they are needed and supported by the data to prevent unsustainable pressure on the NHS".

This could include legally mandating face coverings in certain settings, he said, while a system of vaccine passports was also being held "in reserve".

"As well as these three steps, we'd consider a further measure of asking people to work from home if they can for a limited time if that is supported by the data," he told MPs.

"Any responsible government must prepare for all eventualities, and although these measures are not an outcome anyone wants, it's one we need to be ready for just in case."

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Downing Street said there was no single metric for triggering the introduction of "Plan B" measures but the government would consider a range of data, including the number of patients in hospital, the trajectory of new cases and vaccine effectiveness.

Mr Javid said the government would remove more of its powers in the Coronavirus Act, including those directing the temporary closure of schools.

However, those that are "critical" to the pandemic response, such as supporting statutory sick pay for those self-isolating, will remain.

Mr Javid said there would also be an update on rules for international travel ahead of a formal review point on 1 October - and he suggested PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers would be scrapped in favour of cheaper lateral flow tests.

Asked by Conservative MP Huw Merriman if he would consider moving to lateral flow tests instead, Mr Javid said: "I don't want to pre-empt the statement by the transport secretary but I believe that when he makes that statement, he will be pleased."

Source: BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”