No need for tougher Covid restrictions based on latest hospital data, health minister insists

Numbers on wards and in intensive care dramatically down on one year ago, up to end of 2021

There is no need for tougher Covid restrictions in England based on hospital data up to the end of 2021, a health minister has said.

Edward Argar said the numbers on wards and in intensive care were dramatically down on one year ago, showing vaccines and better treatment had put the country in “a very, very different position”.

“I’m seeing nothing in the data right in front of me, in the immediate situation, that suggests a need for further restrictions,” he said, in the first interview granted by a minister since Christmas.

The upbeat verdict came despite Mr Argar admitting the number of hospital admissions will continue to rise for at least two more weeks “potentially”, given the lag period between infection and illness.

Before the new year, Boris Johnson backed away from imposing new Covid curbs – even as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland cracked down – after a cabinet and party revolt.

Mr Argar also sought to dismiss growing expectations of an attempt by Tory MPs to topple the prime minister, after a collapse in public support over sleaze and lockdown-busting No 10 parties.

“There is a clear sense of common purpose in the parliamentary party and in the country in getting behind the prime minister,” he claimed.

Hospital chiefs have warned that the next few days will be critical in determining whether the NHS can cope with rising admissions, worsening staff shortages and a huge patient backlog for treatments.

But, speaking to Times Radio, Mr Argar drew a stark contrast between the situation over this festive period with the crisis that triggered the third lockdown one year ago.

“At the height of the wave, just under a year ago, we were up to 35-38,000 people in hospital. At the moment, the numbers I have for 31 December are 12,395.

“ICU – ventilated beds – again, same date New Year’s Eve, I have got a figure of 789. That did actually come down in the few days before that.

“So, we are in a very, very different position as a result of antivirals [treatments], as a result of the vaccines.”

Mr Johnson is due to review existing plan B measures – mask-wearing and Covid passes to enter crowded venues, plus work from home guidance – on Wednesday.

However, they are likely to remain in place for several weeks, while Omicron cases continue to surge, after new measures were announced for schools.

Heads have been given the go-ahead to introduce online teaching, if necessary, after the return of face coverings in secondary school classes, until 28 January at least.

Mr Argar said: “We need cool, calm heads. We need to look at the data and we need to do everything possible to avoid any restrictions.”

The prime minister had “judged it very carefully”, he argued, adding: “He, I think, shares that same view, which is we’ve got to learn to live with this virus.”