REGIONAL Covid restrictions could return this winter – with local authorities able to dish out rules to beat back the virus.
The Government has allowed regional health chiefs and councils to hold on to special measures – sparking fears local lockdowns could return.
However, the powers don’t currently allow the authorities to put their areas into full lockdown but gives them tools to “respond to serious and imminent threats to public health”.
The aim is to try and nip any large Covid outbreaks in the bud if the areas start to struggle in the next few months, and hospitals look close to being overwhelmed.
These powers include enforcing masks and bringing back social distancing in public spaces and transport, and would also allow councils to stop events or premises.
A government spokesperson said: “As set out in the Autumn and Winter Plan, local authorities will retain the power to introduce requirements or restrictions on individual premises, events or outdoor places, if there is a serious and imminent threat to public health posed by Covid-19.
“These powers cannot be used to impose restrictions on all premises in an area and it is recommended that local authorities consult with Directors of Public Health when taking such decisions.
“We will continue to monitor the data and scientific evidence, working in collaboration with Directors of Public Health and local authorities to protect the public.”
It comes after the Prime Minister revealed the Winter plan to keep Covid at bay.
Boris Johnson unveiled a “toolbox” of tough contingency measures that could be imposed at short notice to wrestle down a fresh spike.
Speaking at a Downing Street briefing last week he was bullish that his plan “will give us the confidence we don’t need to go back to the lockdowns of the past”.
Health secretary Sajid Javid said the risk of further mutations means another lockdown can’t be completely ruled out.
He made the remarks in the Commons as he laid out the Government’s twin-track plan to avoid another national shutdown.
He was pressed on the circumstances under which the Government would resort to reimposing a national lockdown.
Mr Javid replied: “In terms of any potential triggers, one thing I would highlight is the importance of being on guard against any future variants.
“Especially if there is ever a variant that is, let’s say a ‘vaccine escape variant’ – no one can rule that out.
WINTER IS COMING
Experts have warned the country should be going to Plan B rather than Plan A, however.
Professor Tim Spector revealed he would be urging ministers crank up a gear in the fight against Covid.
He said: “Don’t wait for the already creaking NHS and its poor staff that have been suffering for so long to go through further traumas.”
Plan B would involve masks being reintroduced, home working coming back and vaccine passports brought in.
The NHS hospitals suffering worst at the moment are in Scotland, followed by the Midlands, with Prof Spector warning “it wouldn’t take much to tip the Midlands into a big problem”.
Every winter the NHS struggles with the usual respiratory illnesses, but this year Covid plus these viruses could bring hospitals to capacity much quicker.
Last winter, flu and other viruses were largely kept down due to everyone being in lockdown and Covid being the dominant virus spreading around the country.
But this year, we will have been mingling much more freely with no social distancing in the run up to – and throughout – winter.
This means medics will be faced with both Covid and the classic winter illnesses, which will be back with a bang.
Prof Chris Whitty warned: “Winter is coming, and people should still take this seriously.”
