Covid news: NHS boss warns virus not ‘magically disappeared’ as TfL keeps masks despite scrapped plan B

Covid-19 has not “magically disappeared”, the chief executive of NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, said today, adding that Boris Johnson’s decision to ease restrictions “doesn’t mean a return to normality is inevitable”.

Matthew Taylor’s comments came after the PM told the Commons earlier that plan B will be lifted at midnight on Wednesday evening next week, removing all requirements for Covid passes in sports and entertainment events and face coverings in public places.

Despite this, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said face masks will remain compulsory on the Transport for London (TfL) network. He also urged Mr Johnson to rethink plans to lift mask rules for public transport and shops next week in all UK cities, saying the virus remained a threat.

“If we have learnt anything from this pandemic, it is that we must not get complacent and undo all our hard work and sacrifices,” Mr Khan said. “I’m asking everyone in our capital to do the right thing and continue to wear a face covering when travelling on TfL services to keep us all protected and to prevent further restrictions.”

Key Points

• NHS chief warns Covid hasn’t ‘magically disappeared’

• Face masks to remain compulsory on TfL, says Sadiq Khan

• Sajid Javid says Omicron in retreat...

• ...after PM drops plan B Covid restrictions in England

• UK ‘past peak’ of Omicron as infections drop by 1 million

• Booster jab turnout at lowest average since October

Good Morning!

04:52 , Stuti Mishra

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Stay tuned for rolling updates and statistics.

Pandemic is ‘nowhere near over’, WHO chief warns

05:39 , Stuti Mishra

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, directo-general of the WHO, said the pandemic is “nowhere near over” and warned that new variants are likely to emerge in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“Omicron continues to sweep the world; last week, there were over 18 million reported cases,” Dr Tedros said. “The number of deaths remains stable for the moment but we are concerned about the impact Omicron is having on already exhausted health workers and overburdened health systems.”

“In some countries, cases seem to have peaked, which gives hope that the worst of this latest wave is done with, but no country is out of the woods yet,” he further said. “I remain particularly concerned about many countries that have low vaccination rates, as people are many times more at risk of severe illness and death if they are unvaccinated.”

“Omicron may be less severe, on average, but the narrative that it is a mild disease is misleading, hurts the overall response and costs more lives,” he added. “Make no mistake, Omicron is causing hospitalisations and deaths, and even the less severe cases are inundating health facilities.

“The virus is circulating far too intensely with many still vulnerable.”

“For many countries, the next few weeks remain really critical for health workers and health systems and I urge everyone to do their best to reduce risk of infection so that you can help take pressure off the system.”

England expected to ease Plan B Covid curbs

05:52 , Stuti Mishra

Boris Johnson is expected to lift England’s Covid plan B measures after his Cabinet meet on Wednesday morning to review restrictions.

The prime minister is due to make an announcement to parliament afternoon, with mask-wearing and home-working guidance set to be scrapped.

Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, Sajid Javid told MPs he was “cautiously optimistic” that regulations could be “substantially reduced” and that the peak of the Omicron wave had passed.

Jon Stone reports:

Covid plan B restrictions set to be scrapped as ministers meet to review rules

Former FDA chief says Omicron may be the end of Covid

06:39 , Stuti Mishra

Dr Scott Gottlieb, the former chief of the US Food and Drug Administration, said that the onset of the Omicron variant may be a sign that the pandemic is coming to an end.

During an appearance on CBNC’s Squawk Box, Dr Gottlieb said researchers were cautiously optimistic that Omicron will become the dominant strain of the coronavirus.

“We’ve seen this virus continue to drift and undergo gradual evolution...there is a presumption at some point we are going to have a dominant lineage,” he said. “The conventional wisdom right now is it’s likely to be Omicron.”

Graig Graziosi has more:

Former FDA chief says Omicron may be end of Covid as infections and deaths rise

Doctors warn hospitals ‘not coping’ as study links A&E waits to deaths

07:33 , Thomas Kingsley

Hospitals are not able to cope with current pressures, senior doctors have warned, as a new study links long A&E waits to an increased risk of death.

Patients waiting more than five hours within an emergency department are at an increased risk of dying, according to a study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal (EMJ).

The study’s findings come as emergency care performance across England continues to deteriorate, and as pressures across hospitals mean that more patients are waiting for more than four hours in A&E departments than ever before.

Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas has the full story below:

Doctors warn hospitals ‘not coping’ as study links A&E waits to deaths

‘Nocebo effect’ may be behind two-thirds of Covid vaccine symptoms, study suggests

07:45 , Thomas Kingsley

Nearly two-thirds of reported adverse effects to vaccination against Covid-19, such as headaches and fatigue, could be due to the “nocebo” effect – a negative version of the placebo effect – a new study has suggested.

While under the placebo effect, a person’s health improves after taking treatment with no pharmacological therapeutic benefit, such as a sugar pill, or a syringe full of saline, the nocebo effect occurs when individuals experience unpleasant side effects after a similar treatment, the scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in the US said.

Read more here

UK approach to Covid favoured elderly and harmed the young, says leading paediatric expert

08:00 , Thomas Kingsley

The UK’s approach to tackling Covid-19 was weighted in favour of the elderly and has harmed children as a result, a leading paediatric expert has said.

“Our children have suffered too much from us closing down their lives, to protect the middle age and the vulnerable,” Russell Viner, a professor in adolescent health at University College London, told The Independent. “I don't think during this pandemic we have necessarily got the balance right.”

Our science correspondent, Samuel Lovett, has the full story below:

UK approach to Covid favoured elderly and harmed the young, says leading expert

Now not the time to change PM, minister warns

08:15 , Thomas Kingsley

Armed Forces minister James Heappey said that now is not the time to be changing Prime Minister.

He told BBC Breakfast: “What’s going on in the world right now, whether it be from a security perspective where there’s incredible instability in a number of regions of the world where the UK has great interest, or economically where as we’ve discussed inflation is rising as the global economy recovers from the pandemic.

“Or from the pandemic itself, which whilst I think the UK has weathered the Omicron surge well, by the way, that’s in no small measure of thanks for the decisions the Prime Minister has taken, we’re not out of the woods yet, and there’s still work to be done.

“This doesn’t feel like the time to be changing Prime Minister to me.”

Feelings of depression and anxiety ‘increased sharply over Christmas’

08:30 , Thomas Kingsley

Depression and anxiety symptoms among Britons rose sharply over the Christmas period – despite there being no lockdown, according to a survey.

Although there were fewer restrictions compared with the previous festive season, research led by University College London found that depressive symptoms were on a par with levels during lockdown at the start of 2021.

The Covid-19 Social Study, which involved 31,151 participants, also found that the increase in depression and anxiety symptoms was most prominent in younger adults.

Read the full story below:

Feelings of depression and anxiety ‘increased sharply over Christmas’

WHSmith takes Omicron hit

08:45 , Thomas Kingsley

WHSmith has revealed that sales at its stores remain below pre-pandemic levels and those at travel locations including airports and railway stations fell in the final month of 2021 as the Omicron variant of coronavirus spread.

Bosses said high street stores have seen improvements compared with 2019 levels, although these fell in the first two weeks of January.

Chief executive Carl Cowling said: "Looking ahead, although we are seeing a small impact from the Omicron variant, we anticipate a resumption in the recovery of our travel markets over the coming months.

"We are well placed for the key trading period in travel this summer and the ongoing recovery in our markets."

WHSmith has been hit heavily by various lockdowns and restrictions, along with the collapse of the travel market.

Additional reporting by PA

Met defend policing of Sarah Everard vigil at Clapham Common

09:00 , Thomas Kingsley

The Met is defending a Judicial Review of police engagement with Reclaim These Streets after they proposed a vigil for Sarah Everard on Saturday, 13 March, 2021.

The claim relates to discussions between the claimants and officers in the days prior to the proposed vigil about the impact of the restrictions imposed by the Health Protection Regulations during the pandemic.

The Met Police faced backlash for ]heavy policing of the vigil after several mourners were arrested at the Clapham Common event in memory of Ms Everard who was murdered by former Met officer, Wayne Couzens.

Omicron is ‘definitely’ on a ‘downward slope,’ says Scotland’s clinical director

09:16 , Thomas Kingsley

Asked if we are in the “endgame”, Professor Jason Leitch told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think we’re in the endgame of Omicron. I’m afraid that’s not the answer you wanted.

“Nobody knows if we’re in the endgame of the whole pandemic. And anybody who does, I’m afraid it’s hope rather than reality.

“I hope we’re in the endgame, and the WHO are telling us still to be cautious - don’t drop your guard for surveillance of other variants that might come into your country or you might generate yourself.

“But we’re definitely in a downward slope of Omicron, which is terrific news.”

More from Scotland’s clinical director on easing restrictions

09:32 , Thomas Kingsley

Although Professor Jason Leitch said Omicron is on a “downward slope” he insisted that the easing of restrictions should be gradual

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’ve learned that closing fast or restricting fast serves you well. So, on the way into protections, it’s often better to go earlier than you think and harder than you think.

“On the way out the opposite, I’m afraid, is true. You should go slightly slower than you would hope to go and slightly more gradual.”

He said people are still being asked to be careful.

“So, we still want them to do the lateral flow tests before they leave home to meet other people, still get vaccinated, still wash your hands when you arrive at the Radio 4 studio in the morning or wherever you happen to be working.

“So all of those things still apply, but we’re hopeful that this can be a smooth and continuous removal of protections.”

Grammy’s rescheduled due to Covid concerns

09:45 , Thomas Kingsley

A new date for the 64th Grammys has been announced - after it was postponed due to Covid-19 concerns.

The ceremony was originally planned to go ahead on 31 January but due to Covid concerns amid the rise of Omicron cases, the award show has been pushed back

Now, it will take place on 3 April in Las Vegas, The Recording Academy and CBS have confirmed.

Worst of pandemic will soon be behind us, says NHS consultant

10:14 , Thomas Kingsley

The end of the pandemic is “now in sight”, according to an NHS frontline consultant, despite hospitals still feeling the strain of Covid-19 patient numbers.

Dr Richard Cree, who has blogged about his work during the pandemic, said he is confident that “the worst will soon be behind us”.

The intensive care consultant at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital believes the Omicron wave is now “waning”.

Writing in his nomoresurgeons.com blog, Dr Cree said: “Fortunately, the number of Covid patients being admitted each day has begun to decrease and the situation should continue to improve.

“Boris (Johnson) appears to have already started celebrating the end of the pandemic. To be honest, it looks like he started celebrating way back in May 2020 and never stopped.

“For the rest of us, raiding the wine fridge at work and cracking open the champagne may be somewhat premature.

“However, despite the strain that the hospital is currently under, I am confident that the worst will soon be behind us and that the end is now in sight.”

More Scots could return to office next month

10:31 , Thomas Kingsley

More Scots could return to the office from next month, with ministers “looking carefully” at the possibility of increased hybrid working.

Finance secretary Kate Forbes said that could be the next step in the Scottish Government's phased approach to lifting coronavirus restrictions.

Limits on the number of people who can attend outdoor events, which were imposed at the start of the Omicron wave, were removed earlier this week.

Further restrictions, including the need for bars to operate table service only and asking people to limit meet-ups to a maximum of three households - will end next Monday.

Abu Dhabi requires booster shots to enter the emirate

10:45 , Thomas Kingsley

Facing a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases fueled by the spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant, Abu Dhabi is requiring people entering the city to show proof of booster shots.

The government's health app said earlier this week that people entering the capital of the United Arab Emirates must show a “green pass," confirming their vaccination status. The app says that visitors are no longer considered fully vaccinated unless they have received a booster at least six months after their second dose.

Japan ready to expand virus restrictions as infections surge

11:00 , Thomas Kingsley

Japan's government is preparing social restrictions in Tokyo and other regions as the omicron variant of the coronavirus infects more people.

Japan has never had a lockdown during the pandemic but has focused instead on asking restaurants and bars to close early.

The order will be finalized this week and is likely to take effect Friday, the government spokesman said Tuesday. The measures are expected to last for about three weeks in 16 regions, including Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima, which were already placed under some restrictions earlier this month.

Two close aides of Pope Francis test positive for coronavirus

11:15 , Thomas Kingsley

The second and third ranking Vatican officials under Pope Francis have tested positive for Covid-19, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is secretary of state, had slight symptoms, and the deputy secretary of state, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, had no symptoms, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

He said both Parolin, 67, an Italian, and Pena Parra, 61, who is Venezuelan, had self-isolated in their residences in the Vatican.

Restrictions may life ‘widely and quickly,’ says Eamon Ryan

11:30 , Thomas Kingsley

Covid-19 restrictions may be lifted from the end of next week, a senior Irish Cabinet minister has said.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said on Wednesday that he expected the Cabinet to meet on Friday to consider the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Ryan, the climate minister, said he expected the Government to start lifting restrictions "quickly" and "widely".

The comment comes as health officials point to signs that the latest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, fuelled by the Omicron variant, has passed.

Mr Ryan told RTE radio on Tuesday that he believed restrictions could be lifted as soon as the end of next week.

Boris Johnson will make a statement to the House of Commons

11:31 , Thomas Kingsley

Throughout the day we’ve reported that Boris Johnson is expected to make a statement to MPs regarding Covid restrictions.

It is now been confirmed by the House of Commons that a statement from the prime minister is expected later today.

WHO says no evidence healthy children, adolescents need COVID-19 boosters

11:45 , Thomas Kingsley

There is no evidence at present that healthy children and adolescents need booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the World Health Organization's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news briefing, she said that while there seems to be some waning of vaccine immunity over time against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus, more research needs to be done to ascertain who needs booster doses.

Everything we know about plan B restrictions being scrapped

12:15 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson’s “plan B” measures are currently in force in England in the hope of limiting the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 this winter.

At his Downing Street press conferences prior to Christmas, the PM warned that the new strain is “growing much faster” than the dominant Delta variant and encouraged the British public to get a booster vaccine as a matter of urgency to tackle waning immunity and keep infections low over the festive period.

But, how long will the rules be in place? At the time of writing - Wednesday 19 January - Mr Johnson is being tipped to give a press conference announcing the repeal of restrictions imminently.

Joe Sommerlad and Lamiat Sabin report:

When will Plan B be reviewed? Everything we know so far

Covid cases falling in almost all UK countries

12:25 , Sam Hancock

Things are looking up in the UK. Covid-19 infections have fallen in most countries, though levels remain high, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

In England, around one in 20 people in private households are estimated to have had the virus in the week to 15 January, or 3 million people, down from 3.7 million in the week to 6 January.

In Scotland, around one in 20 is estimated to have had Covid-19 last week, or 236,600 people, down from 297,400. In Wales, the estimate is one in 25, or 112,100 people, down from 169,100.

For Northern Ireland, though, while the latest estimate is also one in 20, the number of people testing positive is up slightly from 99,200 to 104,300, with the ONS describing the trend as “uncertain”.

Watch: ‘Nocebo effect’ may be behind Covid vaccine symptoms – study

12:30 , Sam Hancock

Northeast and southwest England only parts of England still in trouble

12:42 , Sam Hancock

Following my post from 12.25pm, further data shows Covid infections fell in all parts of England - apart from the northeast and southwest, where the trend is uncertain, the ONS said.

In northeast England, around one in 10 people was likely to test positive for Covid-19 in the week to 15 January - the highest estimate for any region.

Southwest England had the lowest rate, at around one in 25.

Boris Johnson makes Covid-19 statement to Commons

12:44 , Sam Hancock

Here we go. The PM is now making a statement about the coronavirus to MPs in the House of Commons.

He is expected to scrap plan B restrictions from as early as next week.

Stay tuned for the latest updates.

Scientists believe Omicron ‘peaked nationally'

12:55 , Sam Hancock

Johnson says “our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally”.

He adds there remains “significant pressures on the NHS” but says hospital admissions, “which were doubling every nine days just two weeks ago, have now stabilised”.

Face masks to be abandoned tomorrow and Covid passes next week

12:55 , Sam Hancock

Now, let’s look to timings. From the start of Thursday next week, mandatory certification will end. “Organisations can choose to use the NHS Covid pass voluntarily, but we will end the compulsory use of Covid status certification in England,” the PM says.

He adds that from now on the government is no longer asking people to work from home and says “people should speak to employers about arrangements to return to the office”.

And from as early as tomorrow, “we will no longer require face masks in classrooms, and the Department for Education will shortly remove national guidance on their use in communal areas”.

Going on to clarify face masks will no longer be mandated, but encouraged, he said: “In the country at large, we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces - particularly when you come into contact with people you don’t usually meet - but we will trust the judgement of British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.”

Self-isolation rules remain in place after latest changes

12:57 , Sam Hancock

Johnson tells MPs that as England returns to plan A, some measures still remain.

These include those on self-isolation in particular. “It is still a legal requirement for those who have tested positive for Covid to self-isolate,” the PM says.

“There will soon come a time when can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, though,” he adds.

Plan B Covid restrictions to end in England, PM announces

12:59 , Sam Hancock

Here’s our political editor Andrew Woodcock with more on what Johnson announced.

Plan B Covid restrictions are to end in England, with Covid passes no longer required from next Thursday, work from home guidance lifted and and end to mandatory face-coverings, the PM has announced.

A meeting of Cabinet agreed this morning that the Plan B rules in place since early December will be lifted on their scheduled review date of 26 January.

Work from home guidance is lifted immediately and people are no longer encouraged to work remotely if possible.

Read the report in full:

Plan B Covid restrictions to end in England, Boris Johnson announces

Starmer asks for scientific evidence to be published

13:03 , Sam Hancock

Sir Keir Starmer’s up. He says he backs the PM’s decision to end plan B restrictions, but asks for the science that led to this decision to be published for all to see.

Johnson says this can, “of course”, happen, before accusing the Labour leader of not saying if Labour supports the latest move.

Starmer interjects to say he, and the party, do support it, as he said.

Blackford: PM only scrapped plan B to save himself

13:10 , Sam Hancock

Over to Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, now.

He suggests the PM has only decided to scrap plan B rules because he is attempting to save his political career.

Blackford says the NHS is still under immense pressure and caution must still be exercised, rather than “thrown to the wind”.

The PM refuses to answer the claims directly and instead repeats his insistence that MPs must wait for the ongoing enquiry by Sue Gray before deciding if he did anything wrong.

Ministers to make Covid travel update ‘in coming days,’ says PM

13:14 , Sam Hancock

There was a lack of travel information in the PM’s Covid update, which former leader Theresa May pulls him up on.

Johnson says the government will make an announcement about easing Covid travel restrictions “in the next few days” after May, the Maidenhead MP, said many of her constituents “work in the aviation sector” and needed to know the government’s position on testing requirements for people coming into England.

“If we are going to learn to live with Covid we need to facilitate travel,” May says. “Will he take this opportunity to announce that when plan B restrictions are removed next week, the government will also make it clear that there will be no test requirements for anybody entering England who is fully vaccinated?”

Mr Johnson says ministers “will certainly review testing arrangements for travel and the health secretary will be making a statement in the next few days on that”.

“I think it’s very important everybody in the country understands that getting your booster, wherever you want to go in the world, getting your booster is going to be a pretty crucial thing to do,” he adds.

Hunt commends PM’s update but ask for more NHS support

13:32 , Sam Hancock

Still in the Commons. Tory MP Jeremy Hunt, who is rumoured to be in the running for next leader of the party, welcomed the current incumbent’s plan B announcement and praised the “courage” to pre-order vaccines earlier in the pandemic.

Hunt, who chairs the Health and Social Care Committee, says: “At the height of the first wave, this government had the courage to pre-order 400 million doses of vaccine without even knowing if they work.

“That has laid the foundations for us having the best vaccine programme of any large country. So, I welcome today’s announcement.”

He says NHS doctors and nurses are “absolutely shattered”, though, and that “if [the PM] doesn’t want to accept the select committee’s recommendations to address the workforce crisis, what will he do to give hope to our brilliant frontline staff?”

Boris Johnson thanked NHS staff and said Hunt was “right in what he says about how tired people are”. He also quoted figures about the workforce, saying there are now “44,000 more healthcare professionals then there were in 2020”.

Tory MPs criticise remaining compulsory jab for NHS staff

14:04 , Sam Hancock

A frequent criticism of the announcement today came from Tory MPs who disagree that NHS workers should be forced to get vaccinated against Covid, or face getting sacked.

One such figure, Sir Desmond Swayne, said he “wholeheartedly” welcomed plan B measures being dropped, but said he wanted the PM to “review again the need to sack domiciliary workers and NHS workers”.

Conservative former minister Esther McVey said she too wanted “to question on behalf of the 100,000 NHS workers the mandatory vaccinations”.

“Given the chief medical officer told MPs that vaccination had a minimal impact on transmission, isn’t it the case now there is no reason at all for mandatory vaccinations for care workers and NHS staff?” she put to Johnson.

The PM held strong, though, saying “the evidence is clear that health care professionals should get vaccinated”.

Another call for review came from Tory MP Mark Harper, who said he wanted the PM to reconsider sacking NHS staff if they have not had the jab. “We shouldn’t reward our NHS staff for all their dedication with the sack,” the anti-lockdown figure said.

Still, Johnson didn’t budge. “We don’t want to drive people out of the service, but it is a professional responsibility of everybody looking after the health of others within our NHS to get vaccinated,” he said.

Johnson pays tribute to ‘burnt out’ staff at St Thomas’ hospital

14:09 , Sam Hancock

To finish off his statement to the House, Johnson paid tribute to staff at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, and pledged to support the NHS with more staff, after hearing health workers are “burnt out”.

It comes after Labour MP Florence Eshalomi said “hardworking” staff, who she spoke to “regularly in my constituency”, were “tired” and “stressed mentally”.

Citing the PM’s stay at St Thomas’ when he had Covid, she added these were the same “hardworking staff who cared for him when he was sick with this deadly virus last year”.

“What is the Prime Minister going to do to address - one, the staffing shortage across the NHS? And two, the sheer mental health stress that our staff are facing day in, day out?” she asked.

The PM echoed the sentiments to staff at St Thomas’, “to whom I owe a massive personal debt”, saying the government had to “make sure we continue to support them with investment but also with more staff”.

PM ‘isn’t prioritising saving lives’, say bereaved families

14:15 , Adam Forrest

Dr Saleyha Ahsan, spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said: “Whilst the prime minister removes public health protections in the hope of saving his own skin, 438 families have tragically lost loved ones to Covid in the last 24 hours.”

“He isn’t prioritising saving lives and, even if he was, no one would take him seriously. How can anyone think that this is how life or death decisions should be made? The prime minister has shown he’s unfit for office and should resign.”

UK ‘past peak’ of Omicron as infections drop by 1 million

14:17 , Sam Hancock

The UK appears to have passed the peak of the Omicron wave after new figures showed that weekly nationwide infections have dropped by almost one million.

A total of 3.4 million Britons were estimated to be infected with Covid in the seven days to 15 January, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - down from 4.3 million in the previous week. It is the first week that the ONS’ weekly Covid report, seen as the gold standard for predicting the scale of the UK epidemic, has recorded a drop in case since Omicron first took hold in late November.

The figures come as Boris Johnson said that all plan B measures - including mandatory face masks and work-from-home guidance - will be dropped from next week, sparking calls for caution from healthcare leaders and scientists.

Our science correspondent Samuel Lovett reports:

UK ‘past the peak’ of Omicron wave as infections drop by almost one million

BREAKING: Javid to hold press conference post-plan B changes

14:27 , Sam Hancock

Health secretary Sajid Javid is to hold a press conference at Downing Street at 5pm today to discuss changes to Covid regulations in England, No 10 has announced.

Mr Javid will face questioning shortly after Boris Johnson’s announcement that plan B restrictions will be lifted at midnight on Wednesday evening next week, removing all requirements for Covid passes in sports and entertainment events and face-coverings in public places.

Follow our political editor Andrew Woodcock’s breaking report:

Sajid Javid to hold press conference on changes to Covid restrictions

‘Extra layer of surveillance’: No 10 defends move to keep travel testing

14:53 , Sam Hancock

The government is defending its decision not to immediately end testing for travel to England.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said “at this point in the pandemic”, it was important to maintain “that extra layer of surveillance” to watch out for the emergence of new variants.

“We will review the rules by the end of January,” he added.

It comes after former PM Theresa May asked for this measure to be reviewed due to it not being included in Johnson’s Covid update today, in which he scrapped plan B restrictions in England from next week.

No decision on ending free lateral flow tests, No 10 claims

15:31 , Sam Hancock

Downing Street insists no decision has yet been made on when to end the provision of free lateral flow tests, despite reports suggesting this will change in the coming weeks or months ahead.

“Lateral flow tests remain free to use and we continue to encourage people to access them,” Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said today.

“In our autumn and winter plan which we published last year we were clear that at a later stage the Government, as our response to the virus evolves, universal free provision of things like lateral flow tests will end and we will update once we are in that position.”

He added: “There’s been no decision made on when that will be, it will depend on what we see in terms of the epidemiology in this country and we will keep that under review.”

Scotland records 29 more deaths and 8,495 cases

15:32 , Sam Hancock

Over to Scotland, where 29 further Covid deaths and 8,495 new cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours, according to latest figures.

It means the death toll under this measurement, of people who tested positive for the virus in the past 28 days, has risen to 10,122.

Meanwhile, there were 1,571 people in hospital on Tuesday with recently confirmed Covid-19, up 25 on the previous day, with 44 in intensive care, down 15 on the day before.

Watch: Worst of Omicron wave could be ‘done’ in some countries – WHO

16:01 , Sam Hancock

Why you shouldn’t share pictures of your Covid tests online

16:08 , Sam Hancock

People are being urged not to post pictures of lateral flow tests returning negative results for Covid on social media because criminals are using them to make fake passes.

Some venues in the UK such as nightclubs require customers to provide a negative test or prove their vaccination status before entering, reports Matt Mathers.

Security experts are now warning that an illegal trade is developing whereby fraudsters use details of tests posted online to provide others with false negatives, enabling them to lie their way into venues.

Why you shouldn’t share pictures of your Covid tests online

In images: Covid around the UK on Wednesday

16:31 , Sam Hancock

UK in ‘strong position’ to fight Covid, expert says

16:37 , Sam Hancock

The UK is in a strong position in the fight against Covid due to successful vaccine rollouts and high degrees of natural immunity, a health expert has said.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust and former SAGE advisor, who was speaking to Sky News ahead of Boris Johnson announcing he would be lifting plan B measures in England, said: “I think, particularly in the UK, we can be cautiously optimistic.”

He went on: “I don’t think Omicron will be the last variant – this virus remains very plastic; it will continue to evolve and it will continue to change around the world. But the UK, in particular, and some other countries are in a very, very strong position now.”

Furvah Shah reports:

UK in ‘very strong position’ in fight against Covid, health expert says

Concern over nurse staffing levels planned for mini-nightingales

16:59 , Sam Hancock

NHS leaders have raised concerns over the “new mini-nightingales” as hospitals draw up plans for use with “minimal” nursing levels, The Independent has learned.

In December the NHS announced it would be launching eight “surge” hubs dubbed “mini-nightingales” to help hospitals manage increased admissions amid the Omicron wave.

Details around the safety requirements and required staffing levels have yet to be published however several NHS sources have now said some hubs are planning to use a “low” ratio of 1:15 nurses to patients within the units, reports our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas, with one trust chief calling the model a “disgrace”

Concern over ‘disgraceful’ nurse staffing levels in mini-nightingales

Sajid Javid leads No 10 presser after plan B scrapped

17:03 , Sam Hancock

Here we go again, only this time we’re set to hear about changes to Covid measures in England from the health secretary.

Sajid Javid is set to give more detail on the announcement made by Boris Johnson earlier, including that all face masks and Covid passes will no longer be mandatory from next Thursday.

Stay tuned for all the latest updates.

Omicron variant ‘in retreat,’ says health secretary

17:12 , Sam Hancock

After giving a brief history of “how we’ve got to the point” of scrapping plan B measures, Javid says Omicron is now “in retreat” after the latest data shows cases are dropping.

“The latest plan worked,” he told the British public, before going on to say hospitalisations are down too.

Explaining the changes laid out by Boris Johnson earlier, Javid says the government is looking at easing restrictions on both self-isolation and visiting care homes.

However, he warned: “We shouldn’t see this as the finish line ... We can’t eradicate this virus, or its variant, instead we must learn to live with Covid in the same way we live with flu.”

“We must proceed with caution,” he continued, adding Covid “isn’t over yet”.

Watch: Javid says Omicron wave ‘retreating’ in UK

17:18 , Sam Hancock

Javid has ‘never broke Covid rules’

17:40 , Sam Hancock

It’s over to the press for questions now.

Sajid Javid insists, when asked, that he has never broken Covid measures.

“I can say with confidence I have absolutely observed Covid rules at all times,” he told one journalist.

“My mum lives alone, I couldn’t go see her, I couldn’t go to a close friend’s funeral - it wasn’t easy but it was the right thing to do.”

It comes amid accusations of unlawful parties being held in Downing Street throughout the pandemic.

Javid gives PM ‘full support’ amid partygate scandal

17:45 , Sam Hancock

Pushed on whether he is backing the PM, Javid says he “fully supports” his boss and echoes Boris Johnson’s pleas for people to await Sue Gray’s report into whether he misled parliament over claims he attended parties at Downing Street.

“I fully support the prime minister and as I said a moment ago, it’s important to me and to the country that he’s come to the House to apologise,” he said, adding:

“I think it’s right that we’re waiting for the report and when that is completed and the investigation establishes the facts that the prime minister will come back and answer further questions ...

“I think it’s right that we’re waiting for the outcome of the report. And when that is completed.”

Javid refuses to be drawn on Tory leadership questions

17:48 , Sam Hancock

Asked if he thinks Boris Johnson is living on borrowed time, and whether he would again run for the Tory leadership, Javid tells the presser confidently: “We have a leader. We have a prime minister.”

Challenged on whether the PM has shown “good leadership” or just “gotten lucky” with the Covid situation, the health secretary argues Johnson “is busy delivering for this country: he’s delivered on Brexit, he’s delivered on jobs, he’s delivering on fighting this pandemic”.

“And I’ve got a job and that’s a very important job, and that’s health and social care,” he adds.

Watch: Javid confirms end to plan B Covid restrictions

17:51 , Sam Hancock

Cases could increase due to end of plan B, UKHSA warns

17:56 , Sam Hancock

Dr Susan Hopkins, of the UK Health Security Agency, who stood alongside Javid at the presser, made a point worth remembering earlier: we may see an initial spike in cases due to the removal of plan B.

“We’ve seen cases fall for the last two weeks and that is good news and actually they’re starting to fall all across the country in all regions,” she said, before going on to say “it’s very hard” to see beyond two to three weeks in terms of data.

“And clearly the biggest change that’s going to happen is people’s behaviour, and how they react to the removal of plan B will determine how fast infection can spread in the population,” Dr Hopkins said.

“The biggest response that we all have as individuals is to take our personal behaviour seriously and that really is driving towards vaccination uptake, as well as remembering to wear our face coverings when you’re in closed spaces with people that you don’t know.”

PM’s Covid decisions ‘vindicated,’ Javid insists

18:02 , Sam Hancock

Rounding things off, Javid says the decision to lift plan B restrictions in England was down to Boris Johnson’s leadership throughout the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, he denies the PM “just got lucky” when he chose not to impose further restrictions over Christmas.

“The central decision that he made which was to absolutely focus on boosters has been vindicated,” Javid adds.

“That is the main reason that we are where we are today because the prime minister made those decisions.”

And that’s it for the press briefing.

NHS chief warns Covid hasn’t ‘magically disappeared’

18:10 , Sam Hancock

Scrapping Covid measures “will do nothing to relieve the pressure” on hospitals and the virus hasn’t “magically disappeared,” nursing and NHS leaders warned on Wednesday as Boris Johnson announced the end of plan B rules in England.

The bonfire of Covid measures came after ONS data showed Covid-19 cases were falling in most parts of England and after government scientists judged the Omicron variant had “now peaked nationally”. However, the NHS is still battling extreme pressures, reports our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive for NHS Confederation, which represents hospitals, said ministers needed to “be honest with the public that a decision to lift restrictions is a trade-off.” He added: “Covid-19 has not magically disappeared, and we are likely to have to learn to live alongside it for years to come. Lifting restrictions doesn’t mean a return to normality is inevitable.”

Plan B rules are scrapped — but NHS chief warns virus hasn’t ‘magically disappeared’

Covid adviser ‘cautiously optimistic’ after data suggests virus on wane

18:23 , Liam James

A government scientific adviser said several datasets now show that Covid infections are in decline.

Professor Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M), said: “I can be cautiously optimistic based upon what we're seeing that cases are declining and hopefully that trend will continue.”

There was, however, still an increase in infection rates among primary school age children, he said.

“Perhaps that is unsurprising because, obviously, they are a relatively susceptible population compared with older age groups... we need to remember secondary school children are at least semi-vaccinated.

“There's still a little bit of uncertainty in my mind as to what's going to happen over the next couple of weeks - whether we are going to see a surge in infections in primary schools over the next couple of weeks that then turns around and follows what we're seeing in older age groups.

“I think we need another week or two, really, to see exactly what's going to happen.”

Public behaviour key to bringing Covid cases down, says UKHSA adviser

18:41 , Liam James

The chief medical adviser to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said people's behaviour will affect Covid case numbers as restrictions are lifted.

Dr Susan Hopkins said people should act carefully in public and continue to test regularly.

Standing alongside Sajid Javid, the health secretary, at the Downing Street presser earlier, she said: “Clearly when you're working from home you have less social contact, but we're already seeing some people start to go back into the office and mix and socialise more.

“They need to do that carefully and within the guidelines, taking care particularly when they're on public transport, in indoor spaces and crowded places to wear face coverings; to test regularly if they're going back out and meeting people, particularly those who are more vulnerable; and finally to ensure that they've taken up that vaccination offer, because at the end of the day the more people who are vaccinated, the less likely we will see large transmission, especially in those individuals who've had a booster dose.”

Face masks to remain compulsory on London transport, says Sadiq Khan

19:00 , Liam James

The mayor of London said that face masks will remain compulsory on the London transport network despite the end to plan B measures.

Sadiq Khan urged Boris Johnson to rethink plans to lift mask rules for public transport and shops next week. He said the virus remained a threat.

He said: “If we have learnt anything from this pandemic, it is that we must not get complacent and undo all our hard work and sacrifices.

“That's why face coverings will remain a condition of carriage on Transport for London services.

“I'm asking everyone in our capital to do the right thing and continue to wear a face covering when travelling on TfL services to keep us all protected and to prevent further restrictions from being necessary later down the line.”

The mayor was backed by Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association.

The mayor has been more cautious than the prime minister over face coverings in the past. Masks remained mandatory on TfL services throughout last Autumn despite the nationwide requirement being lifted.

Booster jab turnout at lowest average since October

19:14 , Liam James

The average number of daily booster jabs administered has dropped below 100,000, government figures show.

It is the lowest average since data on the additional vaccines doses was first reported in October.

The average was 95,490 booster and third doses a day for the week to 18 January.

This is down from an average of 234,333 a day at the start of this month, and well below the peak average of 886,797 recorded on 22 December.

Nearly 69 per cent of all adults in the UK are estimated to have received either a booster or third dose of vaccine.

Watch: Javid defends PM who showed ‘leadership’ during Covid

19:24 , Sam Hancock

Low-cost drug ‘limits lung damage in Covid patients’ – study

19:50 , Sam Hancock

Some new research now, after a low-cost drug was found to be safe and effective in limiting lung damage in Covid patients

A new study shows that Heparin - a widely available and affordable drug - could be used safely to treat the virus, boosting treatment options for patients suffering from severe infections, reports Thomas Kingsley.

Researchers from the Australian National University and King’s College London discovered breathing and oxygen levels improved in 70 per cent of patients after inhaling a course of Heparin.

Low-cost drug found to limit lung damage in Covid patients

Northern Ireland to reduce self-isolation to five days, like England

20:10 , Sam Hancock

Over to Northern Ireland. Paul Givan has said the self-isolation period for Covid will reduce from seven days to five, following in the footsteps of England.

In a tweet, the country’s FM said:

In the same tweet, Mr Givan also indicated that he hoped progress can be made at the meeting of the Stormont Executive on Thursday to lift some Covid measures.

Relaxations, if agreed, are likely to be introduced on a phased basis, and include some of the latest restrictions implemented, according to a report by the PA news agency.

Since 22 December, a series of restrictions on the hospitality sector, including the closure of nightclubs from Boxing Day, have been in place in NI.

Czech singer dies after deliberately contracting Covid

20:20 , Sam Hancock

Czech folk singer Hana Horka has died after intentionally catching Covid, Ellie Harrison reports.

Horka, 57, had not been vaccinated, and her son, Jan Rek, said she got infected deliberately when he and his father had the virus.

Rek told the BBC that Horka, who was in the folk band Asonance, wanted to test positive so she could get a recovery pass to access certain venues. Proof of vaccination or recent infection is required in the Czech Republic to gain entry to venues including cinemas, bars and cafes.

Singer Hana Horka dies aged 57 after deliberately contracting Covid

Watch: Right-wing US presenter ‘claps with glee’ at hearing military chief has Covid

20:47 , Sam Hancock

BMA: Removing all Covid rules ‘will inevitably increase transmission’

21:06 , Sam Hancock

As The Guardian’s Andrew Gregory reports:

That’s it for today...

21:19 , Sam Hancock

We’ll leave it there for today, thanks for following along.

Be sure to check back tomorrow morning for all the latest Covid news, statistics and analysis.

In the meantime, head over to The Independent’s homepage for all the latest news.