contingency planning to the very last moment. the most recent restrictions in england, set out in the government s plan b earlier in december, are expected to be reviewed this week. katie prescott, bbc news. well, due to the holiday period, the government s latest coronavirus figures aren t complete, but there were 137, 583 new infections recorded in the latest 24 hour period in england and wales alone. 73 deaths were recorded, that s of people who died within 28 days of a positive test in england and wales. and our political correspondent damiam grammaticas is here. the government is still saying nothing in the data to warrant further restrictions in england at the moment but there s an important review this week? that is right, these measures in england, were brought in in the middle of december. there was a battle in parliament, barely 100
in each of the last four days. the uk only has figures from england and wales there were 137 thousand 583 new infections recorded, in the latest 24 hour period again much lower than over the past week. the uk government is bracing itself for as many as one in four of public sector employees being off work because of covid. it has responded to the rise in infections by re introducing masks and face coverings in secondary schools in england bringing it in line with the rest of the uk. with the details, here s sanchia berg. in scotland, pupils have been wearing masks as they learn with the windows open for the last few months. the picture is similar now in northern ireland and wales. next week, english secondary students will follow suit as the government tries to reduce the spread of covid in schools. around half of children over 12 have been double jabbed, not enough to keep the virus out.