Responding to the health and social care secretary Sajid Javid's briefing today, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"Trust leaders are increasingly concerned about the significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and patients on ventilators.

"The health secretary has ruled out implementing 'Plan B' of the COVID-19 winter for now, but it is vital that the government keeps a close watch on these figures and takes the necessary steps if needed to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed, particularly as we head into winter.

"The government needs to base these decisions on the full information it receives, including the wider societal impact of renewed restrictions, balanced with the multiple pressures the NHS is facing.

"The health service is already working under immense pressures to recover waiting lists and deal with demand for emergency care, with continuing severe staff shortages. It is also important to recognise that as COVID-19 pressures intensify, this could impact on the NHS’ ability to reduce waiting lists.

"Added to this, trusts are also facing their first winter with both flu and COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases, such as RSV and norovirus in circulation.

"That’s why the vaccination campaign is so important. The booster vaccination is a critical means of maintaining our defences against the virus and we are urging everyone to take up the offer of a COVID-19 jab, including a booster, and a flu jab when they are offered it.

"We should also encourage self-isolating as appropriate, wearing a mask, especially in crowded and indoor spaces, and ventilating rooms, which are all simple steps we can take to help contain COVID-19.

"The health secretary’s announcement that new antivirals could become available is very welcome."