defend the indefensible, - party. we've got a party trying to defend the indefensible, they - party. we've got a party trying to i defend the indefensible, they are doing so badly. it's not right, it's not fair and doing so badly. it's not right, it's not fairand it doing so badly. it's not right, it's not fair and it doesn't respect the country or the office. government outlines of _ country or the office. government outlines of relaxations _ country or the office. government outlines of relaxations of - country or the office. government outlines of relaxations of some i outlines of relaxations of some restrictions on england starting next thursday. we will bring you a news conference live from downing street shortly. the cost of living has risen at its fastest pace for nearly 30 years driven by increases in food and energy prices. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. we're expecting a news conference in downing street shortly on the easing of coronavirus restrictions in england. it'll be led by the health secretary, sajid javid. we'll bring you that live. it comes on another dramatic day at westminster as the prime minister continues to fight to stay in office. today there's been a tory defection to labour and strong critcism towards borisjohnson from a former cabinet minister. we can go to downing street right now. afternoon and welcome. today marks the start in the next chapter of the country's fight against covid—i9. a few hours ago the prime minister announced thanks to the progress we have all made, we will be lifting the plan b measures and returning to our original plan a. this is a moment that we can all be proud of. the culmination of a brilliant national mission that helped us to withstand the omicron wave and restore more freedom to this country. it's a reminder of what this country can accomplish when we all work together. we will shortly be hearing from the chief medical advisor to the uk health security agency, doctor susan hopkins. but before we do, i wanted to talk about how we got to this important milestone and what this means for ourfight against this milestone and what this means for our fight against this virus. let's start with how we got here. back in july we made the decision to take step four of our road map so that we could roll back the restrictions and move closer to normal life. this wasn't an easy decision. but taking this step when we did, backed by the warmer weather and the school holidays, it helped us to enjoy the greatest possible freedoms for a number of months. as i said when i announced that change, this showed us how we can learn to live with covid. but i also warned that a more harmful new variant would have the potential to set us back. four months later, our scientists, learning from their colleagues in south africa, were amongst the first in the world to help identify a new variant, omicron. a variant that was capable of spreading faster than any covid variant that had come before it. spurred by this new transmissible variant, case numbers rose to record levels and incredibly over one third of the uk's total number of confirmed covid—i9 cases happened over the last eight weeks. there was a lot we didn't know about omicron. but we did know that we were in a stronger position than the previous winter thanks to that decision to open up in the summer and to the solid defences that we had built up over time. so we decided not to return to the lockdown measures as many countries in europe have. because i've always been extremely conscious of the impact that blanket restrictions can have, for instance onjobs, on education, on mental health. instead, we pursued a different path, one that allowed us to take a balanced and proportionate approach. we put in place the plan b contingency measures that were set out in the autumn and winter plan. these measures left us with far fewer restrictions than most in europe and they bought us valuable time. time that we could use to assess the omicron variant and reinforce this country's pharmaceutical defences. since we announced plan b, 15 million people have stepped forward to get their boosters. we have smashed records again and again, including a record 1.06 million uk vaccinations in a single day. we have also massively expanded our capacity for testing and we expect to have some 400 million lateral flow tests available this month alone, quadruple our pre—omicron plans. 0n this month alone, quadruple our pre—omicron plans. on top of this we have secured even more anti—virals and treatments and deployed them directly to those people with the highest risk. thanks to this huge collective effort, we are more boosted than any large country in europe. we have created the largest testing programme of any country in europe and we have procured more anti—virals than any country in europe. that's why we are the most open country in europe and today we have announced plans to go even further. 0ur have announced plans to go even further. our plan was to use the time that plan b gave us to give ourselves extra power in our fight against omicron. this plan has worked and the data shows that omicron is in retreat. today's 0ns data shows a fall in infections, including an older age groups. hospitalisations have also fallen over the past week and the number of covid patients in intensive care bedsis covid patients in intensive care beds is now at the same level as it was back injuly. i have always said that we would open up the country as soon as the data supports it and earlier today that's why we announced three important changes as part of our return to plan a. first, starting immediately, the government is ending the guidance on working from home. i know that many people have already started talking to their employers about making arrangements to return safely to work. second, from the start of next thursday, mandatory certification based on vaccines and tests will end. but of course, organisations can still choose to use the nhs covid pass voluntarily. third, also starting next thursday, we will no longer legally mandate the wearing of facemasks, but we must suggest that they are worn in enclosed and crowded places, especially where you come into contact with people that you don't normally meet. these changes will take effect even sooner in classrooms where we will no longer require face coverings from tomorrow and the department for education will shortly remove the guidance on their use in communal areas. as well as these changes, we areas. as well as these changes, we are also exploring what else and where else we can ease restrictions. we are looking to replace legal requirements on self isolation with guidance and advice and in the coming days i will be setting out our plans to further ease restrictions on visits to care homes. the steps i have announced today represent a major milestone, but it's not the end of the road. and we shouldn't see this as the finish line. because we cannot eradicate this virus and its future variance. instead we must learn to live with covid in the same way that we have learned to live with flu and we have learned to live with flu and we will be setting out our long—term plan for living with covid—19 this spring. we must stay vigilant and be mindful that there could be bumps in the road ahead. although we have worked hard to make sure that the nhs will be ready and resilient, building nightingale surge hubs and signing new deals with the independent sector, it is still facing significant pressure this winter. even before the omicron wave we had a covid backlog of elective care and now, unfortunately, that covid backlog will be larger still so we must proceed with caution. a pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint. even on this day of progress i would urge everyone to think about what they can do to help keep the virus at bay. whether it's washing your hands, letting in fresh air or getting tested and self isolating if you are positive. but the best step that we can all take is to get vaccinated. it was the jabs that have got us this far and the jabs can keep us here too. i am so grateful to all the staff, volunteers, military, everyone that worked on the roll—out programme. we asked you to come forward and you did in your millions. and it's because our view that we have been able to take these steps today. —— it's because of you. but as long as there are people who have not been protected, we know that our defences are not as strong as they should be and the nhs will be under more pressure than it should be. so please, if you haven't had your first, second or third jab, it's time to come forward. help us keep this success story going and protect the incredible progress we have all made. i would like to hand over to susan who will talk us through some of the latest data.— of the latest data. thank you. first slide please- _ this slide highlights the number of cases we have seen testing positive in the uk. two important points. 0ne in the uk. two important points. one is you can see that in december and january we had a threefold higher number of cases detected than we did in a similar period last year in the middle of the alpha wave. the most recent seven day average is 93,210 cases per day and that has come down quite substantially from a peak on the 29th december at almost 225,000 cases. this is also reflected in our hospitalisation data. here you can see that we have reached case numbers of less than 20,000 cases in hospital in the uk, again, less than half the peak we saw last december and january, 2020 and 2021. it is also important to note there are only 703 patients in mechanical ventilator beds, and that's a level as low as lastjuly when we also opened up in this country. it is also much, much lower than we saw in the wave last january. this is reflecting our high levels of vaccination in the population and also the reduced severity we have seen with omicron. here we can show the amazing progress we have made with 52 million people having received a first dose. more than 48 million people on their second dose and 36.6 having received their booster, third dose, and that's two thirds of the eligible population in this country. we have more to do. we need those other individuals who have not had a first, second or third dose to come forward as soon as possible to have the greatest levels of protection. here it shows you the benefits of protection with vaccination. what you can see on the first graph is the levels of protection in individuals who are admitted to the intensive care unit. if you focus on the red colouring you can see that more than half the people being admitted to icu over the last seven or eight months are unvaccinated. if you also see the smaller proportions that have had two mac doses and a booster in comparison to the general population. you can see in the general population, only 10% of individuals are unvaccinated but those individuals are disproportionately being admitted to icu. the greatest thing you can do to protect yourself against icu admission and hospital admission is to get vaccinated. here it shows why we are in such a good position in this country right now and why we have seen reductions in our hospitalisation compared to where we could have expected a month ago, where we see reductions in case numbers and falling case numbers in the country. this relates to our booster campaign and we have now got compared to comparable countries across europe and north america, the highest rate of boosters in the population overall. we can see other countries are rapidly trying to increase their booster campaign and we also know this is affecting their hospitalisation rates and cases in their population. the strongest defence we have against the omicron wave we are now experiencing and any future waves of variance we might experience is vaccination so i urge anyone to take up the offer as soon as possible. anyone to take up the offer as soon as possible-— we will turn to questions, and the first two are from members of the public. i believe the first is christina in berkshire. given the increasin: christina in berkshire. given the increasing number _ christina in berkshire. given the increasing number of _ increasing number of hospitalisations of young children with covid—19 are there plans to vaccinate — with covid—19 are there plans to vaccinate children under 12? with covid-19 are there plans to vaccinate children under 12? vaccinate children under12? thank ou for vaccinate children under12? thank you foryour— vaccinate children under12? thank you for your question. _ vaccinate children under12? thank you for your question. at - vaccinate children under12? thank you for your question. at this - you for your question. at this point, ourvaccination you for your question. at this point, our vaccination programme is focused on the over twelves at the moment. we have had great success. but you are right to raise the u12s and we take advice from our expert advisors, the jcvi, and we take advice from our expert advisors, thejcvi, and we have asked them to look at this. at this point, what they have advised us is we should vaccinate the u12s that are at risk and that is exactly what we plan to do and we plan to start that this month. but they are keeping it under review to see if we should expand that more broadly to everyone in that cohort. thank you, christina. i believe next is michelle from lincolnshire. please can ou michelle from lincolnshire. please can you exolain — michelle from lincolnshire. please can you explain why _ michelle from lincolnshire. please can you explain why the _ michelle from lincolnshire. please can you explain why the self - can you explain why the self isolation _ can you explain why the self isolation period has changed to five days with _ isolation period has changed to five days with negative lateral flow tests _ days with negative lateral flow tests when right from the beginning of the _ tests when right from the beginning of the pandemic it has been advised that if— of the pandemic it has been advised that if you _ of the pandemic it has been advised that if you have had covid then you shouldn't _ that if you have had covid then you shouldn't do a lateral flow or pcr test for— shouldn't do a lateral flow or pcr test for 90 days as you could have a false result — test for 90 days as you could have a false result. this question needs to be answered as people are losing faith in_ be answered as people are losing faith in the system.— be answered as people are losing faith in the system. susan, would ou like faith in the system. susan, would you like to _ faith in the system. susan, would you like to take _ faith in the system. susan, would you like to take that? _ faith in the system. susan, would you like to take that? we - faith in the system. susan, would you like to take that? we know. faith in the system. susan, would i you like to take that? we know you can remain — you like to take that? we know you can remain pcr _ you like to take that? we know you can remain pcr positive _ you like to take that? we know you can remain pcr positive for - you like to take that? we know you can remain pcr positive for quite . can remain pcr positive for quite some time which is why we don't advise repeated pcr tests unless you have new symptoms. however, the evidence for lateral flow has come hard and fast over the last 6—9 months and we recognise now that once an individual has finished an infectious episode the lateral flow tests become negative and remain negative for the vast majority of people. we have advised and looked at very carefully, individuals who have two negative lateral flow tests can be released from isolation early. the earliest that can be as after their five and six, released on day six, allowing people to get back into the workplace and into school as well. it is really emerging evidence and changing the evidence base rather than any new advice in that way. thank you. thank ou, advice in that way. thank you. thank you. susan- — advice in that way. thank you. thank you, susan. next _ advice in that way. thank you. thank you, susan. next i _ advice in that way. thank you. thank you, susan. next i will— advice in that way. thank you. thank you, susan. next i will turn - advice in that way. thank you. thank you, susan. next i will turn to - advice in that way. thank you. thank you, susan. next i will turn to the i you, susan. next i will turn to the journalists. the first i have on my list is hugh pym from bbc news. thank you, secretary of state. first of all. _ thank you, secretary of state. first of all. will — thank you, secretary of state. first of all, will one for you. how can the prime — of all, will one for you. how can the prime minister continue to lead the prime minister continue to lead the country when one of his most senior— the country when one of his most senior mps— the country when one of his most senior mps in the commons has called on him _ senior mps in the commons has called on him to— senior mps in the commons has called on him to resign? and a question for doctor— on him to resign? and a question for doctor hopkins, cases have risen rapidly— doctor hopkins, cases have risen rapidly fuelled by omicron. do you expect— rapidly fuelled by omicron. do you expect to — rapidly fuelled by omicron. do you expect to see them fall quite quickly? _ expect to see them fall quite ruickl ? ., ~ expect to see them fall quite ruickl ? . ~' ,. expect to see them fall quite uickl ? ., ~' quickly? thank you. i was in the prime minister _ quickly? thank you. i was in the prime minister today _ quickly? thank you. i was in the prime minister today in - quickly? thank you. i was in the i prime minister today in parliament when he set out our response to covid. —— i was with the prime ministerfor the top covid. —— i was with the prime minister for the top there was huge support for what he set out, and you could see that in parliament and among those watching. what we have seenin among those watching. what we have seen in the last few weeks and in the newspapers, on the bbc and elsewhere, it has caused a lot of pain and anger. and i of course, like anyone else, i absolutely understand that. the prime minister has come to parliament and apologised. he has asked for the time and space for the investigation taking place to be completed so the facts can be established and then he will come back to parliament and answer any questions and be happily scrutinised on those facts once they are established. fin scrutinised on those facts once they are established.— are established. on the cases fallin: , are established. on the cases falling. we — are established. on the cases falling, we have _ are established. on the cases falling, we have seen - are established. on the cases falling, we have seen cases i are established. on the cases i falling, we have seen cases fall for the last two weeks and that's good news. they have started to fall all across the country in all regions. there are some age differences. some age groups are seeing plateaus or slight rises and therefore while we believe overall we will continue to see declining cases that may plateau at some point as the infection is in various different populations. it is very hard to see beyond two or three weeks and clearly the biggest change that will happen is people's behaviour, and their behaviour and how they react to the removal of plan b will determine how fast infection spreads in the population. the biggest response we all have as individuals is to take personal behaviour seriously and that's driving towards vaccination uptake as well as remembering to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces with people you don't know. thank ou. next with people you don't know. thank you- next i — with people you don't know. thank you. next i have _ with people you don't know. thank you. next i have tom _ with people you don't know. thank you. next i have tom from - with people you don't know. thank you. next i have tom from sky. i with people you don't know. thank- you. next i have tom from sky. thank ou, you. next i have tom from sky. thank you. secretary — you. next i have tom from sky. thank you. secretary of— you. next i have tom from sky. thank you, secretary of state. _ you. next i have tom from sky. thank you, secretary of state. what - you. next i have tom from sky. thank you, secretary of state. what is i you. next i have tom from sky. thank you, secretary of state. what is the i you, secretary of state. what is the public _ you, secretary of state. what is the public health justification for ending — public health justification for ending the requirement to self—isolate if infected and if the government brings that forward, is it prepared — government brings that forward, is it prepared to do so against the guidance — it prepared to do so against the guidance of the who during a global pandemic? and given the suggestion that today's announcements have only been made _ that today's announcements have only been made given the political difficulty the prime minister finds himself— difficulty the prime minister finds himself in, do you as health secretary offer him your unqualified support— secretary offer him your unqualified support or— secretary offer him your unqualified support or are you like rishi sunak going _ support or are you like rishi sunak going to _ support or are you like rishi sunak going to reserve judgment until the sue gray— going to reserve judgment until the sue gray report. let going to reserve 'udgment until the sue gray report.— sue gray report. let me start on that. sue gray report. let me start on that- first — sue gray report. let me start on that- first of— sue gray report. let me start on that. first of all _ sue gray report. let me start on that. first of all you _ sue gray report. let me start on that. first of all you asked i sue gray report. let me start oni that. first of all you asked about self isolation rules, ending those rules if you are positive. that is still a requirement. rules if you are positive. that is stilla requirement. it rules if you are positive. that is still a requirement. it is still something that the prime minister has referred to today and we will review. there is no decision on that at this point. but it is clear that despite the changes we are announcing today there is still a very high rate of prevalence, around one in 20 according to the latest ons one in 20 according to the latest 0ns data. it's currently important to keep those rules in place. we will review them. i don't want to presume the outcome of that review but it is reasonable to think, just as we are living with flu and we don't require people to legally self—isolate but to remain cautious and sensible and if they are infected, and i think eventually we will have to find a way to live with covid in a similarfashion. 0n will have to find a way to live with covid in a similarfashion. on your question about the prime minister, i fully support the prime minister. as i said a moment ago, it is important to me and the country that he has come to the house and apologised and it's right we are waiting for the outcome of the report and when that is complete of this investigation establishes the facts, then the prime minister will come back to answer further questions. you asked me about me and rules on whether i have observed them, if i heard you correctly. i can say with full confidence i have absolutely observed the covid—19 rules at all times. and i would say, like millions of people across the country, it hasn't been easy. like millions, my mother lives alone and i couldn't go and see her. i couldn't go to the funeral of a close friend. it wasn't easy, but it was the right thing to do, as millions have done up and down the country when they were asked to. it's important also that if we look at the announcement today, because millions and millions have observed the rules and on the right thing, we can take the measures we are taking today and remove these restrictions on our freedoms, today and remove these restrictions on ourfreedoms, which today and remove these restrictions on our freedoms, which should always be a last resort. so i am proud of the british people and what they have allowed us to achieve in our fight against this horrid virus. susan, did you want to say anything on the self isolation rules? i susan, did you want to say anything on the self isolation rules?- on the self isolation rules? i would 'ust add on the self isolation rules? i would just add that _ on the self isolation rules? i would just add that in _ on the self isolation rules? i would just add that in the _ on the self isolation rules? i would just add that in the vast _ on the self isolation rules? i would just add that in the vast majority . just add that in the vast majority of cases, self isolation is not a legal requirement but to give people advice on people for that. even now, as cases within the rules, they are able to take testing to leave early, and as contacts if you are vaccinated you are able to leave every day having done a daily lateral flow test. i think it is just one element of restrictions. if we removed all elements on cases and contacts right now at this moment in the pandemic, that would be different. but a legal requirement is only one component of it. so they should remain _ is only one component of it. so they should remain in _ is only one component of it. so they should remain in place _ is only one component of it. so they should remain in place for _ is only one component of it. so they should remain in place for the i is only one component of it. so they should remain in place for the time | should remain in place for the time being? should remain in place for the time beinr ? ~ , being? the prime minister hinted it would be march, _ being? the prime minister hinted it would be march, but _ being? the prime minister hinted it would be march, but we _ being? the prime minister hinted it would be march, but we still - being? the prime minister hinted it would be march, but we still have i would be march, but we still have cases _ would be march, but we still have cases at _ would be march, but we still have cases at the highest levels of infections we have ever seen with covid _ infections we have ever seen with covid. ., , ., ., covid. tom, 'ust to say that review is covid. tom, just to say that review is something _ covid. tom, just to say that review is something we _ covid. tom, just to say that review is something we will— covid. tom, just to say that review is something we will do _ covid. tom, just to say that review is something we will do but - covid. tom, just to say that review is something we will do but at i covid. tom, just to say that review is something we will do but at this | is something we will do but at this point in time those requirements and the need to self—isolate if you are positive remain very important. may i next turned to emily from itv. thank you, secretary of state. i wondered — thank you, secretary of state. i wondered if you are personally frustrated that you are constantly having _ frustrated that you are constantly having to — frustrated that you are constantly having to defend the prime minister's actions while at the same time having to deliver very important public health advice? and also if— important public health advice? and also if i _ important public health advice? and also if i may, to follow one from tom's_ also if i may, to follow one from tom's question, is what you're saying — tom's question, is what you're saying today that by the end of march — saying today that by the end of march we will effectively be living with no _ march we will effectively be living with no restrictions place whatsoever?— with no restrictions place whatsoever? . ,, , ., , with no restrictions place whatsoever? . ,, , ~ ., whatsoever? thank you, emily. again, when it comes — whatsoever? thank you, emily. again, when it comes to _ whatsoever? thank you, emily. again, when it comes to the... _ whatsoever? thank you, emily. again, when it comes to the... what - whatsoever? thank you, emily. again, when it comes to the... what has i when it comes to the... what has happened in number ten, the photos and videos and things we have all seen and we all understandably, i think all of us have been pained and angered by that, it is right for the prime minister to respond, and he has responded in parliament and he will come back to parliament once the investigation is complete. i think that is the right approach. in terms of what happens at the end of march, i think first of all we can reflect on the last eight weeks, and that's what it has been, it feels like longer with omicron, but it has been eight weeks. that accounts for a third of all covid—19 infections we have seen throughout the pandemic. looking back over that i think we got all the big decisions right. throughout the whole pandemic we haven't got every big decision right, not all the small ones, but we have got every big decisions right. that's why we were able to take the steps today and be the freest country in europe. there are still some requirements and restrictions in place, such as the need to self—isolate if you are positive. there are still some requirements around travel with lft test ink. we will review those and i will come back in the spring with how we will live with covid. but we will have to find a way to remove almost all of these restrictions and get life completely back to normal, but with one or two big things that i think will be there for a while. 0ne i think will be there for a while. one is the need to vaccinate. i can't tell you how often that'll be but i think vaccinations will remain hugely important. just as we have annual vaccinations certainly for older people for flu, i think anti—viral treatments will continue to play a big role, especially for those who might be more exposed. and i think testing, it is great where we are today with testing and i think it will improve with time, but these pharmaceutical defences of the vaccines, anti—virals, testing, i think they will be the cornerstone of our future defences. thank you, emily. next, david from pa. the latest recorded _ emily. next, david from pa. the latest recorded daily deaths figure is 359 _ latest recorded daily deaths figure is 359. you are now lifting restrictions. is this the kind of daily— restrictions. is this the kind of daily death toll the country has to be comfortable with as part of the shift to— be comfortable with as part of the shift to living with covid? and after — shift to living with covid? and after the _ shift to living with covid? and after the events of the last few days _ after the events of the last few days do — after the events of the last few days do you think the prime minister is living _ days do you think the prime minister is living on— days do you think the prime minister is living on borrowed time and would you throw— is living on borrowed time and would you throw your hat into the ring in a leadership contest again? doctor hopkins. _ a leadership contest again? doctor hopkins. is— a leadership contest again? doctor hopkins, is the uk hsa completely comfortable with the measure announced today and has an assessment been made on what it would _ assessment been made on what it would do — assessment been made on what it would do to cases, removing the legal— would do to cases, removing the legal requirement and facemasks and the end _ legal requirement and facemasks and the end of— legal requirement and facemasks and the end of working from home guidance?— guidance? thank you for your questions- — guidance? thank you for your questions. on _ guidance? thank you for your questions. on the _ guidance? thank you for your questions. on the daily i guidance? thank you for your questions. on the daily death guidance? thank you for your i questions. on the daily death toll, questions. 0n the daily death toll, throughout this pandemic, over 150,000 deaths that we have seen. people across the country have lost friends and loved ones. of course, no one wants to see anything like that and it has happened across the world. thankfully we are in a place today, because of the vaccines primarily, the death rate has fallen dramatically and as susan said earlier and has shown on the data, with omicron in particular, the number of people in intensive care is even lower now than it was before omicron came along. that's important. but we can't stress enough how important it is to get vaccinated because that is the way to keep deaths low. you mention to the number of people dying. you mentioned the latest number. the numbers are varying day by day and there are some reporting differences depending on which day of the week is picked but looking at the average daily death rate, the seven day average, i think it is around 200 in england, which is a lot, lot lower thanit england, which is a lot, lot lower than it has been before. we want it to get lower. something else that i think is important to point out about the death rate, which i think susan might expand on, also with omicron we know that if we look at infections of people with covid in hospital, we estimate around 40% of the people with covid in hospital are there not because they have got covid, they happen to have covid. it's what you might call an incidental infection. they are not their being treated for covid. that's almost double the percentage we saw with delta. that's important because the deaths that are being reported of people that were covid positive, within 28 days of passing away, many of those people would not have necessarily died of covid. what we are seeing in hospitals, that proportion of roughly 40% not being there because of covid is an indicator of that. what susan might expand on, the 0ns has very detailed data on that which i think they will come out with shortly where they look at the actual cause of death on a death certificate and i think that will be important data when it comes. such you asked about leadership. we have a leader, a prime minister. the prime minister is busy delivering for this country. he has delivered on brexit and jobs, he is delivering on brexit and jobs, he is delivering on fighting this pandemic. myjob is very important, health and social care, myjob is to make sure health and social care is the best it can be in this country.— and social care is the best it can be in this country. susan? on the deaths within _ be in this country. susan? on the deaths within 28 _ be in this country. susan? on the deaths within 28 days, _ be in this country. susan? on the deaths within 28 days, we - be in this country. susan? on the deaths within 28 days, we regard | deaths within 28 days, we regard this as a leading indicator and something we monitor very carefully, but as the secretary of state has said it does not take into account people who have died with covid who have had a diagnosis, and sadly we will see some people, particularly the elderly, dying within 28 days of a case of covid. we look very carefully at the 0ns data, released weekly, in the last two weeks it has always liked because the death registrations need to come through. —— it has always lagged. we need to monitor the number of deaths we rc and andy 0ns are monitoring that are on the death certificate, related to the death in some way. if those diverged we will discuss it further and highlight the reasons. 0n the components of face coverings aren't working from home, case numbers have declined, it is behaviour that will make the difference over the next four weeks —— face coverings and working from home. clearly when you are working from home you have less social contact but we are already seeing some people going back to the office and mixing and socialising more. they need to do that carefully edit the guidelines, taking care particularly on public transport, indoor spaces and coded places to wear face coverings. indoor spaces and coded places to wearface coverings. —— crowded places. they need to ensure they have taken up the vaccination offer, because the more vaccinated people the less likely we will see large transmission, especially in those individuals who have had a booster dose.,. individuals who have had a booster dose. . . , . , ., individuals who have had a booster dose. i . , . , ., individuals who have had a booster dose. i . , ., , ., to dose. jane, please, from the i. to the health — dose. jane, please, from the i. to the health secretary, _ dose. jane, please, from the i. to the health secretary, can - dose. jane, please, from the i. to the health secretary, can you i the health secretary, can you realise — the health secretary, can you realise that a return to plan b if another — realise that a return to plan b if another variant of concern emerges? -- can— another variant of concern emerges? -- can you _ another variant of concern emerges? —— can you rule out a return. the prime _ —— can you rule out a return. the prime minister said you got the big things— prime minister said you got the big things are — prime minister said you got the big things are covid right, including not introducing tougher measures over christmas in england in response _ over christmas in england in response to omicron. but he just got lucky _ response to omicron. but he just got lucky he _ response to omicron. but he just got lucky. he wanted to introduce tougher— lucky. he wanted to introduce tougher measures before christmas but was _ tougher measures before christmas but was blocked by the cabinet and the party — but was blocked by the cabinet and the party. how can he portray this as strong — the party. how can he portray this as strong leadership if he wasjust lucky _ as strong leadership if he wasjust lucky. doctor hopkins, what is the scientific— lucky. doctor hopkins, what is the scientific evidence for scrapping self—isolation in march, or even earlier, — self—isolation in march, or even earlier, as _ self—isolation in march, or even earlier, as the prime minister has suggested — earlier, as the prime minister has suggested today?— earlier, as the prime minister has suggested today? thank you for the ruestion. suggested today? thank you for the question- in — suggested today? thank you for the question. in terms _ suggested today? thank you for the question. in terms of— suggested today? thank you for the question. in terms of looking i suggested today? thank you for the | question. in terms of looking ahead, as i said a moment ago, this pandemic is still with us, it is not the end of the road, there will be bumps in the road, there will be future variants, there were many variants between delta and omicron but many were not that dangerous or much of concern but then suddenly omicron came along and we all know what happens. so we have to remain vigilant against future variants and also learn from what we had done, and what we have learned, and especially over the last couple of months, is that our pharmaceutical defences really work. the vaccines, especially the boosters, the mass testing, the focus on anti—virals and other treatments and also how the british people respond. when omicron came about and we were very open about it and the risks, the british people responded fantastically and so responsibly, taking tests if they were meeting elderly people all going to a high—risk place, getting vaccinated in their millions, the most boosted country in europe, i think these are the measures as we look ahead. to your second point, the measures as we look ahead. to yoursecond point, i the measures as we look ahead. to your second point, ithink the measures as we look ahead. to your second point, i think you said something related to the prime ministerjust get lucky? of course not, the prime minister has shown leadership throughout. when we look at the emergence of omicron and what happened, as ministers we receive lots of advice notjust on the public health risk, which is hugely important advice, we get advice on what might be the impact of certain measures on the economy, on education, on other health issues, mental health, cancer outcomes, these are all vitally important and what the prime minister has to do, and only pecan can as the head of government, is to balance those and come to a judgment, which is exactly what you did —— as only he can as the head of the government, is to balance those in to a judgment, which is exactly what he did. he focused on boosters, that has been vindicated, if you look at the booster rate in the uk not only versus europe it also countries like israel who started before us, that is the main reason we are where we were today, because the prime minister made those decisions, the country responded in their millions and it has left us opening up the country, of course remaining cautious and vigilant but we can't take the measures we taken today. calling it scrapping self—isolation is a bit simple. over time we have looked at the evidence, we have reduced the isolation period from what was ten days down to potentially just five days what was ten days down to potentiallyjust five days if what was ten days down to potentially just five days if you have to negative lateral flow tests, almost half many people. in addition, for contacts, if you are vaccinated you can do daily lateral flow tests and not need to self—isolate already, that is the vast majority of the adult population, they have had two doses. for other individuals we still ask them to self—isolate and will continue to look at alternatives and review the scientific evidence and continue to monitor the scientific impact of this virus in the population. for other diseases we recommend to people how long they isolate for when they had symptoms and we recommend you contact how long they isolate full if they are a close contact —— and we recommend two contacts. but we also use other things like treatment and prophylaxis to prevent disease, and moving to this pandemic we will develop new tools, like we have developed lateral flow, to allow it to change the approach and use science to inform government policy. —— to allow us to change the approach. -- to allow us to change the approach-— -- to allow us to change the auroach. . , ., ., approach. finally to yasmin at the financial times. _ approach. finally to yasmin at the financialtimes. i— approach. finally to yasmin at the financial times. i have _ approach. finally to yasmin at the financial times. i have a - approach. finally to yasmin at the financial times. i have a couple i approach. finally to yasmin at the i financial times. i have a couple of ruestions financial times. i have a couple of questions for _ financial times. i have a couple of questions for the _ financial times. i have a couple of questions for the health _ financial times. i have a couple of| questions for the health secretary. given— questions for the health secretary. given the _ questions for the health secretary. given the ongoing anger over downing street— given the ongoing anger over downing street and _ given the ongoing anger over downing street and whitehall parties, what is your— street and whitehall parties, what is your response to those watching from _ is your response to those watching from home — is your response to those watching from home who would argue that the government has lost to credibility when _ government has lost to credibility when it— government has lost to credibility when it comes to leading the nation through— when it comes to leading the nation through the final stages of the pandemic? and to follow up on david's — pandemic? and to follow up on david's question about impact assessments, labour in prime minister's _ assessments, labour in prime minister's questions called on the government to publish the evidence to support _ government to publish the evidence to support the decision to move to plan a _ to support the decision to move to plan a common will you public that -- publish— plan a common will you public that —— publish that and will you publish an impact— —— publish that and will you publish an impact assessment? and can you -ive an impact assessment? and can you give any— an impact assessment? and can you give any update as to what the government will change the definition of 30 vaccinated to mean two jabs— definition of 30 vaccinated to mean two jabs and one booster? —— change the definition of fully vaccinated. you are — the definition of fully vaccinated. you are right to point to the public angen you are right to point to the public anger, how paint people have been when they had seen and learned, through publications, the television, parties and all that. everyone has been angered, i have been anchored, i am pained everyone has been angered, i have been anchored, iam pained by everyone has been angered, i have been anchored, i am pained by it, you are, i am sure, and that is perfectly understandable. —— i have been angered. the prime minister has already accepted by have been the stakes but has asked for a proper, thorough investigation to establish the facts, and then he will properly respond to that to parliament and the british people, as he should and as he said he would. that will be an important moment at the british people, once they had seen the outcome of the investigation and heard the prime minister's response, they can make an ultimate judgment for themselves, as they should. it is their country, they vote in a government and decide what should and shouldn't happen so it is right they get the full facts but i absolutely understand the anger and the pain. in terms of the second part of your question, the evidence around the decision we have made, we have been sharing evidence through parliament and on the website, for example, of the uk hsa, and we will continue to be open and transparent, there will be many impact assessments we have published with respect to the pandemic and we always keep that under review and we are as transparent as we can be, thatis are as transparent as we can be, that is very important. having sessions like this where members of the public or people like yourself can ask anything you want is part of that transparency. in answer to the final part of your question, we are looking at the definition of fully vaccinated, if we just look at what we have learnt in the last few weeks, we know two vaccines are not enough against omicron, nowhere near enough, they do not work in terms of protecting from hospitalisation, but we know three vaccines can give you 88% protection against hospitalisation, so they work and thatis hospitalisation, so they work and that is why we are where we are, that is why we are where we are, thatis that is why we are where we are, that is why we are where we are, that is why we are where we are, that is why we have made this progress and it is right we keep reviewing and updating the definition of fully vaccinated, but we have to think of how that would work in practical terms. this final question allows me to finally say please, to anyone listening, if you are eligible and not yet boosted, please, please come forward, help yourself, your loved ones and, most of all, help our great country. thank you. thank you all very much. studio: the health secretary sajid javid ending that latest coronavirus briefing questions on the position of the prime minister. let's deal with the coronavirus aspects of that briefing, sajid javid talking about relaxation and scrapping of several restrictions in england. he said plan b has worked and omicron is in retreat, but he said we should not see this as the finish line, we must learn to live with covid as we have learnt to live with flu. our health correspondent nick triggle is here. it was announced in parliament by the prime minister that restrictions are being eased from today in england, what is the thinking behind this? it england, what is the thinking behind this? , . ., this? it is quite clear when we look at the infection _ this? it is quite clear when we look at the infection levels, _ this? it is quite clear when we look at the infection levels, daily - this? it is quite clear when we look at the infection levels, daily cases| at the infection levels, daily cases from people coming forward for testing or the office by national statistics survey which takes april to look at the infection levels across the population, —— which takes a broader look at the infection levels across the population, infections are falling, hospitalisation speaks last week, it looks like we're over the worst of the omicron wave, but we are over the omicron wave, but we are over the worst of it, perhaps with a best case scenario. before christmas we will urge we could see 6000 7000 technicians a day, it looked like it has peaked in england thatjust over 2000 -- has peaked in england thatjust over 2000 —— before christmas were told we could see 6000 or 7000 admissions a day. we have very high population immunity, 97% of people in the latest antibody survey have tested positive for antibodies, meaning they had some immunity. before the pandemic it was 0%, our immune systems had never come in contact with the virus. so that puts in the uk, in england, the population in a good position to withstand some of this relaxation of restrictions. the single biggest thing in terms of preventing on the transmission, when you are infected, is to isolate when you are infected, is to isolate when you had symptoms, when you test positive, and that is remaining in place. it positive, and that is remaining in lace. , ., positive, and that is remaining in lace. , . , , place. it is remaining in place but both said place. it is remaining in place but both sajid javid _ place. it is remaining in place but both sajid javid and _ place. it is remaining in place but both sajid javid and the _ place. it is remaining in place but both sajid javid and the prime i both sajid javid and the prime minister earlier pointed to plans to end south isolation by the end of march —— south isolation. there will be people who think everything you had set is clearly good news but we have figures today showing over 300 deaths were recorded and infection levels are quite high, they will be saying how can you square these things with an engine of self—isolation? things with an engine of self-isolation?- things with an engine of self-isolation? ., ., ., self-isolation? you cannot argue with the politics, _ self-isolation? you cannot argue with the politics, the _ self-isolation? you cannot argue | with the politics, the government would have found it hard to persuade the backbenchers to back an extension of plan b, so you need to see it in that context, but in terms of the deaths, we have seen numbers increasing, 359 deaths reported today, the daily average is between 200 and 300 -- today, the daily average is between 200 and 300 —— the seven day average. we see a delay at the weekend but lots of depth reported mid week. but susan hopkins from the uk health security agency touched on that during the briefing, because we had seen so much infection, so much and spread of the virus, we are seeing a growing number of coincidental depth, people have tested positive but have not been sick with a virus, but that they had died within 28 days of a positive test, nothing to do with the positive test. we think we are beginning to see more of this and the office of national statistics is looking at this so we can get an idea of how many people are dying. during a bad flu season we can see between 200 and 300 deaths a day, what we have seen with covid this winter is similar to that.— winter is similar to that. many thanks, nick— winter is similar to that. many thanks, nick triggle, - winter is similar to that. many thanks, nick triggle, our- winter is similar to that. many i thanks, nick triggle, our health correspondent. the health secretary was asked almost as many questions about the position of the prime minister as he was about the lifting of the restrictions. i am joined by katie ball�*s, the deputy head of the spectator, to talk about this. i don't know if you were able to listen to sajid javid about this, but he said he fully supported the prime minister but went on to say that like millions across the country lockdown had not been easy for him, he did not see his mother, a close friend died, they were only able to lift restrictions because millions of people had done the right thing, is that an implicit rebuke to people who have not done the right thing? in a rebuke to people who have not done the right thing?— the right thing? in a way, yes. we had seen a — the right thing? in a way, yes. we had seen a few— the right thing? in a way, yes. we had seen a few minutes _ the right thing? in a way, yes. we had seen a few minutes to - the right thing? in a way, yes. we had seen a few minutes to speak. had seen a few minutes to speak about the personal difficulties they have faced or how they understand their constituents' anchor, while at their constituents' anchor, while at the same time saying they put —— they support the prime minister tuesday in place, ministers are finding it very hard to defend partygate and are therefore trying to move on by saying they recognise the anger but also backing johnson. sajid javid focused on the sue gray report which we expect next week, into parties, saying let's wait for that reported here what the prime minister has to say. it is still not cased closed even forjohnson's cabinet. ., ., , ., cased closed even forjohnson's cabinet. ., ,, , cabinet. how do you assess boris johnson's position _ cabinet. how do you assess boris johnson's position this _ cabinet. how do you assess boris johnson's position this evening? l cabinet. how do you assess boris i johnson's position this evening? he has had a big defection today of christian wakeford from the tory benches to labour and this very blistering attack by the former cabinet minister david davies? i think it is tricky to work out how close a confidence vote is, it is peaks and chops. there was a moment probably late last night where despite some saying things were coming in the parliamentary party, there was increased expectation among mps that the 54 that is required for a no—confidence vote were coming in, then earlier this morning lots of people were talking about tensions being raised this afternoon, you mentioned that defection and stretching of a tory mp defecting to labour, not to stand as an independent but to cross to the opposition, has actually helped borisjohnson a bit today because ultimately mps have almost returned to tribal politics that they do not want to give labour what they see as a win, going against borisjohnson if it is going to help labour, so i think it has almost slowed things down slightly again and i think the talk of this impending confidence vote, people think it is a bit further off as mps unite around labour. i don't think borisjohnson is out of the woods but i think it has calmed things.— has calmed things. really interesting. _ has calmed things. really interesting. what - has calmed things. really interesting. what about i has calmed things. reallyi interesting. what about his supporting those red wool seats? over the last few days, it feels as if there is a group of 2019 intake of red wall conservative mps who had turned against him? in of red wall conservative mps who had turned against him?— turned against him? in terms of the medium-term _ turned against him? in terms of the medium-term prospects, _ turned against him? in terms of the medium-term prospects, the i turned against him? in terms of the medium-term prospects, the red l turned against him? in terms of the i medium-term prospects, the red wall medium—term prospects, the red wall mps, and probably more widely the 29 intake, it is not every mp is a red wall and tea, some are in much more traditional tory seats and they are discussing hosting borisjohnson and are very unhappy with him and do not like the tactics which they see as heavy tactics by the whips to almost brief against them and it is turning them their way, polling coming from them their way, polling coming from the red wall seats, one out today suggests that the tories on the current voting intention would lose the bulk of the seats in the red wall if there was an election tomorrow, that will really worry people because borisjohnson is ultimately supported in large because he is seen as the candidate you can win in places like the red wall. ., ~ you can win in places like the red wall. . ,, , ., you can win in places like the red wall. . ,, i. ., , you can win in places like the red wall. . ~' i ., . i z, , you can win in places like the red wall. . , ., wall. thank you, katy balls from the s-ectator. wall. thank you, katy balls from the spectator- let's _ wall. thank you, katy balls from the spectator. let's get _ wall. thank you, katy balls from the spectator. let's get some _ wall. thank you, katy balls from the spectator. let's get some labour i spectator. let's get some labour reaction, with the party chair, anneliese dodds. i don't know if you manage to listen to katy balls, she talked about the deflection of christian wakeford to labour as leading to a closing of ranks amongst tory backbenchers. could it be that it has not worked so well for you, this particular move? i for you, this particular move? 1 think if that has taken place for you, this particular move? i think if that has taken place then it will definitely have been the wrong thing for those conservative mps to do, because as well as christian wakeford's defection to labour today we also saw the spectacle of a conservative prime minister yet again trying to explain away very, very serious concerns about his conduct and the fact that he appeared to be partying while we were at the heart of the pandemic, so i think any mps who believe this has strengthened johnson really do not understand the extent of public anger about his conduct. so not understand the extent of public anger about his conduct.— not understand the extent of public anger about his conduct. so we know the formula — anger about his conduct. so we know the formula from _ anger about his conduct. so we know the formula from boris _ anger about his conduct. so we know the formula from boris johnson, i the formula from borisjohnson, which is to say wait for sue gray, that senior civil servant's report. i wonder what labour want. you'll need a repeatedly for his resignation, to a certain extent wouldn't it be electorally better for you to go into the may elections with boris johnson for you to go into the may elections with borisjohnson as the leader of the conservative party? —— your theatre asked repeatedly for his resignation. irate theatre asked repeatedly for his resignation-— theatre asked repeatedly for his resirnation. ~ ., resignation. we need a government that can get — resignation. we need a government that can get a _ resignation. we need a government that can get a grip _ resignation. we need a government that can get a grip on _ resignation. we need a government that can get a grip on the _ resignation. we need a government that can get a grip on the issues i that can get a grip on the issues people are facing, and this crisis which continues to engulf the conservative party seems to be preventing them from getting any kind of a grip on really big issues like the fuel cost crisis. labour set out a plan to get people's bills write down, to provide that support the struggling families, to pensioners, including with a win full tax on oil and gas companies and we have had literally nothing in response from the conservative government at the very time when people are receiving bills and wondering how on earth able pay —— with a windfall tax on oil and gas companies. the british public do not have a government with a grip on the problems they are facing. it have a government with a grip on the problems they are facing.— problems they are facing. it sounds like ou problems they are facing. it sounds like you have _ problems they are facing. it sounds like you have a _ problems they are facing. it sounds like you have a government's i problems they are facing. it sounds like you have a government's best| like you have a government's best interests at heart, and you do not? we have the best interests of the british public a child, i have heard from people up and down the country both from the point of view of their concerns about the conservative prime minister's conduct but also concerns about the cost of living crisis. over the last few hours we have heard inflation is running at a level unheard of for many, many years and as i said we have a conservative government that seems to be doing nothing to help people with the very high cost of living, it is not good enough. bud with the very high cost of living, it is not good enough.— with the very high cost of living, it is not good enough. and i have a brief uncertain _ it is not good enough. and i have a brief uncertain the _ it is not good enough. and i have a brief uncertain the relaxing - it is not good enough. and i have a brief uncertain the relaxing and i brief uncertain the relaxing and scrapping of covid restrictions in england? —— can i have a brief answer about? irate england? -- can i have a brief answer about?— england? -- can i have a brief answer about? we do not want restrictions _ answer about? we do not want restrictions any _ answer about? we do not want restrictions any longer - answer about? we do not want restrictions any longer than i answer about? we do not want i restrictions any longer than needed, we had said the prime minister needs to provide scientific evidence so they can command the highest possible public support but in principle be want restrictions removed as soon as possible. for reasons of— removed as soon as possible. for reasons of time we have to cut it there, thank you, anneliese dodds. sophie is coming up with the bbc news at six. now it's time for a look at the weather with nick miller no frost this morning but it will be a different story tomorrow, we have had rain moving southwards across the uk, giving a chance to photograph some rainbows. a brief interruption to the quiet weather we have had, high pressure is about to move back in the time the weather front that brought the rain we have brought down across the uk some colder air. feeling cold and a very brisk north—westerly wind, especially across northern scotland can be not seek. england. that will bring further showers, wintry nhs, may be a bit of snow to lower levels, particularly in the northern ireland. the shower for northern ireland, most places will have clear skies, allowing temperatures to drop to all below freezing. a cold start tomorrow, plenty of sunshine, showers towards the north—east of scotland, wintry in nature, some sleet and hail. still a wind chill with this brisk breeze, feeling cold year. the chance of a shower in northern ireland, the far south—west of wales, south—west england, many places having sunshine. overnight into friday, when skies stay clear the first will be harder but the cloud increases, for northern ireland in western scotland particularly, keeping temperatures above freezing, two in glasgow, five in belfast. many rural parts of england and wales will be several degrees below freezing. it looks like eastern areas will see most of the sunshine on friday, the wind is not as strong, it will feel warmer. some cloud pushing into the west might bring drizzle towards north—west scotland and temperatures are edging up, particularly where we have had chilly days in the. high pressure very much in control at the weekend, most places will be tried and ran the area of high pressure, some milder air pushing in, it will not be warm but temperatures will be close to average for the time of year. lots of clouds, some sunny spells in the east, there could be fog slow to clear in places. at six — a day of drama for downing street as the prime ministerfights for his political life. borisjohnson faced yet more calls for him to resign as he defended his record in office. we have more people in employment and more employees on the payroll now than there were before the pandemic began. that is what my staff have been working in downing street, doesn't the country deserve so much better than this out of touch, out of control, out of ideas, and soon to be out of office prime minister? pressure intensified as a tory mp defected to labour and a former cabinet minister delivered his verdict on borisjohnson. you have sat there too long for all the good you have done. in the name of god, go.