Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the findings of Exercise Alice were not published following the outbreak of covid-19; and whether details of that exercise were provided to advisory committees involved in the Government's response to that outbreak.
Answered by Caroline Johnson
The Department does not routinely publish reports on exercises. Exercise Alice was not intended to test elements of preparedness for a pandemic scale event, but to assess the United Kingdom’s readiness for a potential outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a High Consequence Infectious Disease. MERS-CoV, which causes MERS, is a different virus to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
The recommendations from Exercise Alice informed updates to guidance for the health and social care system on the management of patients with MERS and on infection prevention and control for healthcare professionals. These were published as updates to guidance on MERS-CoV prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and is available at the following link:
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will meet with (a) clinically vulnerable, (b) clinically extremely vulnerable and (c) immunosuppressed patient access groups to discuss future covid-19 protections.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Ministers and officials regularly engage with charities and organisations representing and supporting immunocompromised and immunosuppressed groups. This engagement continues and a forum is planned shortly to hear stakeholder’s concerns and progress on the enhanced protection programme.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he taking to help the health and care workforce tackle covid-19 infections in the workforce.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Symptomatic testing in high-risk health and care settings will continue for specific groups where infection can spread rapidly among those at higher risk of serious illness. Additionally, during periods of high prevalence, asymptomatic testing is available in these settings. The Government continues to provide free personal protective equipment to staff in National Health Service Trusts and adult social care services to protect against COVID-19 infection.
The Government has updated its guidance on COVID-19 measures for the NHS and the social care sector, which will continue to be reviewed to ensure these measures are effective and proportionate.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help NHS to manage covid-19 over the autumn and winter period following the rise in hospitalisations in covid-19 during the summer.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The Government aims to manage and respond to COVID-19 risks through routine public health interventions and increasing the National Health Service’s resilience to respond to seasonal pressures. NHS England’s winter preparedness plans are communicated to local systems and are currently being reviewed to include the potential impact of COVID19 infection rates.
Symptomatic testing for specific groups in high-risk health and care settings will continue until at least March 2023. In addition, during periods of high prevalence, asymptomatic testing will be available in high-risk settings. Enhanced personal protective equipment will be provided to protect healthcare workers and the patients in line with the latest guidance.
Specific programmes such as the autumn booster vaccination campaign and antiviral treatments for those at increased of COVID-19 infection will also manage the risk from the virus and reduce severe illness and hospitalisations. The Government will continue to keep the response under review to ensure it remains effective and proportionate.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's policies during the covid-19 outbreak on people who were ineligible to claim Government financial support in that period.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Throughout the pandemic, the Government sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods while also supporting businesses and public services across the UK. To do this, the Government has provided up to £400 billion of direct support for the economy.
The Government is evaluating the delivery and impact of these schemes to ensure we learn lessons for the future. For example, the Government has already published a plan to evaluate the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The Government is also carrying out an evaluation of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which will be published in due course.
The Government will continue to learn these lessons through formal evaluations and reports by independent bodies, such the National Audit Office, and through the work of the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry.
Asked by: Lord Farmer (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to publicise findings from the SIREN study, and data from this and other studies about the protective effects against reinfection and serious illness of infection-acquired immunity (unboosted by vaccination).
Answered by Lord Kamall
Scientific papers and reports from the SIREN study are being publicised online through the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and in scientific journals. In addition, the study’s participant retention programme includes regular webinars, newsletters and videos to share its results and findings.
On 22 July 2022, the UKHSA published SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England Technical briefing 44 with data on trends in primary infections and reinfections. A copy of the technical briefing is attached.
The Office for National Statistics’ COVID-19 Infection Survey publishes analysis on re-infections and the associated risk factors and symptoms. An updated assessment, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19, UK: 20 July 2022. Characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, was published on 20 July 2022. A copy of the assessment is attached.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has a timeline for the introduction of increased public health measures to tackle the level of covid-19 infections.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The COVID-19 vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured there is a reduced risk of severe illness or hospitalisation. The Government’s guidance encourages responsible behaviours, while targeting protection for those most at risk from infection. While self-isolation is no longer required and testing is no longer recommended for those not at high risk, those with symptoms of COVID-19 or their household contacts should avoid contact with others where possible, in the same way as other infectious diseases.
The Government will continue to keep this response under review to ensure it remains effective and proportionate.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent rising levels of covid-19 cases in the UK.
Answered by Maggie Throup
The COVID-19 vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured there is a reduced risk of severe illness or hospitalisation. The Government’s guidance encourages responsible behaviours, while targeting protection for those most at risk from infection. While self-isolation is no longer required and testing is no longer recommended for those not at high risk, those with symptoms of COVID-19 or their household contacts should avoid contact with others where possible, in the same way as other infectious diseases.
The Government will continue to keep this response under review to ensure it remains effective and proportionate.
Asked by: Nick Gibb (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what public health advice is being issued regarding the increasing infection rates of Omicron variant BA-5.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Due to the COVID-19 vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments, there is a lower risk to the population of severe illness or hospitalisation. The Government’s guidance has transitioned to encouraging responsible behaviours, while targeting protection towards those individuals most at risk from the virus.
In April 2022, guidance for the public was issued which set out how the risk of infection and transmission of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, can be reduced in addition to guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory illness. Public health principles were also published to reduce the spread of respiratory infections in the workplace.
The UK Health Security Agency and the National Health Service continue to promote safe behaviours and vaccination to the public through the media and local authorities, including Directors of Public Health and their teams. The Government continues to monitor a range of data to ensure the country’s response to COVID-19 remains effective and proportionate and will communicate public health advice through all available channels.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of covid-19 cases; and what recent advice he has received on the risks of covid-19 in autumn 2022.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Data shows that COVID-19 infections are currently rising in all age groups. This is likely to be caused by infections compatible with the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, which are now dominant in the United Kingdom. While hospitalisations are rising, the number of people in mechanical ventilation beds remains low.
We continue to monitor the current situation ahead of the autumn, including advice from the UK Health Security Agency on progress on contingency planning. In May 2022, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation provided its interim advice to the Government on an autumn booster vaccination programme in the autumn. We expect its final advice shortly.