Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the personal protective equipment currently provided to NHS staff provides effective protection against new variants of covid-19.

Following the identification of new COVID-19 variants, the United Kingdom Infection Prevention Control Cell conducted a comprehensive review of available evidence to inform any necessary changes to the guidance for health workers in England including recommended levels of personal protective equipment (PPE). Based on the evidence, they concluded that current guidance and PPE recommendations remain appropriate. Emerging evidence and data on variant strains will be continually monitored and reviewed, and the guidance amended accordingly if and when needed.