Emergency Covid laws are renewed for ANOTHER six months unopposed

Emergency Covid laws were renewed for another six months yesterday.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid claimed extraordinary powers to impose house-arrest, close businesses and schools, and restrict gatherings, were 'still necessary and proportionate to help with the pressure' as 223 Covid deaths were recorded on Tuesday - the highest since March.

Though lockdown-sceptic Conservative backbenchers called the Coronavirus Act 'dystopian', Labour refused to oppose the renewal of the law until March next year, saying it pays statutory sick pay from day one rather than day four under previous measures. The decision meant that the draconian regulations were approved without a parliamentary vote.

A review by the Government published last month outlined how seven of the remaining 27 temporary, non-devolved provisions in the Coronavirus Act would expire as part of the latest six-month review.

These included powers to prohibit or restrict events and gatherings as 'most legal restrictions have been achieved under the Public Health Act, and so these powers have not been required', according to the review.

However, Office for National Statistics figures showed that Covid cases in England are now at their highest level since the darkest days of the second wave in mid-January, with one in 60 people infected on any given day last week.

Top scientists have repeatedly warned of a fourth wave this winter, prompted by the return of pupils to classrooms and office workers, as well as the colder weather and darker evenings driving people to socialise inside where the virus finds it easier to spread.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty claimed this winter will be 'exceptionally difficult' for the NHS, even if there is not a surge of infections. He warned the health service faces tough months ahead due to a resurgence of flu and other seasonal viruses.

Though Transport Secretary Grant Shapps dismissed introducing another lockdown at Christmas, Downing Street has plans in place to bring back restrictions if the roll-out of booster vaccines and jabs to over-12s fail to curb the impact of Covid on hospitals. And Ministers have previously warned they could not rule out another lockdown as a last resort.

Department of Health bosses yesterday posted 223 laboratory-confirmed fatalities, up 23.2 per cent on last Tuesday's figure. It was the highest victim count since March 9, when 231 people died with the virus.

In other Covid developments:

Nearly 5million vulnerable adults have yet to have their Covid booster vaccine, official figures show; 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson says it's 'critical we accelerate' the booster drive with fears growing over 'challenging' winter which could see return of face masks and work from home guidance; Professor Ferguson also called for return of face masks and for teenagers to get two Covid vaccines; The head of the NHS said the health service was never overwhelmed by Covid during the height of the pandemic; Amanda Pritchard also warned MPs pressures on the health service could see thousands more hospital treatments cancelled; Her comments were echoed by Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who told MPs there is 'huge pressure' on the health service in England.

It comes as 223 Covid deaths were recorded on Tuesday - the highest since March

All children between 12 and 15 will be able to book Covid vaccines online in half-term next week under NHS drive to drastically improve uptake rates

Children will be able to book Covid vaccines online from next week as No10 tries to ramp up lagging vaccination rate in teenagers.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs today teenagers between 12-15 will be able to book appointments online from next week during the half-term break.

'To make the most of half-term next week, we will now be opening up the national booking service to all 12 to 15-year-olds to have their Covid vaccinations in existing national vaccination centres, which will offer families more flexibility,' he said.

The Government hopes making getting appointments easier while students are not at school will help address the slow roll out of the vaccine to this age group.

Only yesterday it was revealed that just 15 per cent of the age group in England have had their first dose, despite becoming eligible for a month.

But uptake was even worse in some areas of England, with some regions reporting as few as one in 30 having received the jab.

Cases also increased, with 43,738 new infections recorded - up 13.5 per cent on the 38,520 last week. And the number of people being hospitalised spiked to 921 on Friday, the latest date data is available for. It was an increase of 20.2 per cent on the previous week.

The troubling figures come as experts warned a subvariant of the Covid Delta strain could be more infectious than its ancestor on the back of data that revealed the proportion of cases linked to the strain has doubled in a month.

Mr Javid, opening a Commons debate on the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Review of Temporary Provisions) (No 3) regulation, told MPs: 'We do certainly expect more pressure as we head into winter, we've been very open about that and that is why the vaccination programme, both the Covid vaccination programme, the boosters and the flu vaccination programme remain important.

'But there are provisions in this Act which are still, I believe, still necessary and proportionate to help with the pressure... again that is for example the registration of healthcare and social care workers, also the power to discontinue healthcare assessments for people being discharged from the NHS.

'I think it is wise especially heading into the winter when we don't at this stage know just how significant the pressures will be to have that flexibility.'

Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis said: 'This Act alone allows the Government to act without recourse to this House, not true of the Civil Contingencies Bill or indeed the 1984 Act. This is why it's wrong, it's because he doesn't have to come back to the House every time he takes away another piece of British freedom.'

Mr Javid replied: 'Now that this Act is in place, it is important that the Government acts properly and quickly at any time that it can retire measures under this Bill and expire them or in some cases suspend them and that there is regular scrutiny of this and the process and that ministers, myself and others come to the House whenever they can to expire provisions under this Bill and if they do continue, then to justify them.'

Health ministers also appeared to give differing commitments on whether MPs would have a vote prior to any implementation of vaccine passports.

The Government's autumn and winter plan suggested that some measures including the mandatory use of vaccine passports for nightclubs and large events and face coverings could be required in England if cases were putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

Mr Javid initially confirmed said there it would be a 'decision for the House', adding: 'We would have to, if that happened, justify that to the House.'

Conservative former minister Mark Harper, who chairs the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, pressed the Government to commit to a vote on vaccine passports ahead of any proposed use.

Mr Harper said the Secretary of State 'committed to the House having to make the decision about vaccine passports. And my question was about whether the House was going to be asked to make that decision in advance, not retrospectively.

Around 3.7million third vaccines have been dished out to over-50s and the immuno-compromised in England as of Sunday (purple line), the latest date data is available for. But some 8.5million people are currently eligible for a booster dose, having received their second jab six months ago (green line). means 4.8million people may be suffering from waning immunity

Prof Lockdown' Neil Ferguson calls for return of face masks and for teenagers to get TWO Covid vaccines

Face coverings should be brought back to remind people to be cautious in everyday interactions, one of the Government's most influential scientific advisers suggested today.

'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson said masks 'remind people we're not completely out of the woods yet'.

All legal Covid restrictions were lifted in England on 'Freedom Day' in July, bringing an end to mandatory coverings indoors. However, people are still required by some transport companies and in medical settings — and No10 still advises people wear them in crowded environments.

Ministers are keeping masks, WFH guidance and controversial vaccine passports in their back pocket as part of the Government's 'Plan B', if an expected surge in cases this winter heaps unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

Professor Ferguson, an epidemiologist who sits on SAGE, admitted some measures