Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he will take to protect (a) people and (b) employers if levels of covid-19 (a) infection and (b) mortality rise.

The Government will retain surveillance to monitor the virus, understand its evolution and identify changes in characteristics and respond accordingly to protect the population if levels of infection and mortality rise. We aim to manage such risks through more routine public health interventions.

The current guidance for employers will be available until 1 April 2022, offering advice on how to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. The Government will work with employers to ensure that new guidance continues to support them to manage the risk of COVID-19 in workplaces.