BRITAIN could be plunged back into lockdown in October if Covid cases surge again, the vaccines minister suggested today.
Nadhim Zahawi refused to rule out the return of restrictions during the Autumn half-term to get the virus under control.
A senior Sage scientist has said the Government is already planning a mini “firebreak” lockdown if hospital admissions spiral.
It would see schools close for an extra week at October half-term, with mask wearing and social distancing brought back in public places.
Travel restrictions could also be reimposed, although it is not thought a full shutdown and stay at home orders would be necessary.
Mr Zahawi did not deny that the plans have been drawn up when he was asked about them today.
He said: “I don’t want to adjust the half-term or go back to any form of lockdowns, because that’s the worst thing we can do to the economy.”
But he admitted there is “upward pressure on infections” because “we’ve reopened the economy to pretty much as close to normal as you can get”.
The vaccines minister said rolling out the booster jab programme to the most vulnerable ahead of winter is “my absolute priority”.
He said: “If we do that well we can continue on this one way road towards sustaining the opening of the economy, and by next year hopefully transitioning this virus from pandemic to endemic and dealing with it on an annual basis.”
Asked about the prospect of schools closing, he added: “We want to make sure they stay open and the way you do that is by protecting the most vulnerable.”
An anonymous scientist advising the Government told the i newspaper the UK is about to enter “an extended peak” of infections and hospitalisations.
