Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to maintain covid-19 restrictions in areas with high levels of (a) infection and (b) hospitalisation.

We have no plans to do so. Although case numbers remain high, evidence indicates that the link between COVID-19 infections and progression to severe disease is substantially weaker than in earlier phases of the pandemic. We will manage COVID-19 in line with most other respiratory illnesses while protecting the most vulnerable, including through the vaccination programme.

As of 29 March 2022, 85.8% of the population aged over 12 years old have received two doses of the vaccine and 71.9% of those aged over 18 years old have received a third primary dose or booster vaccination, in England. Since 21 March 2022, more than 641,000 third or fourth doses have been administered in the spring booster campaign, with more than 454,000 third or fourth doses administered to those aged 75 years old and over.