Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps he is being advised to take to control the rise in the level of infection of covid-19.

We are currently considering a range of options for addressing future phases of the COVID-19. The United Kingdom will continue to use its genomics, epidemiology and virology capacity to ensure that public health interventions are effective and proportionate. New technology to rapidly detect new COVID-19 mutations is being deployed in NHS Test and Trace laboratories. Any decisions on the mid to long-term strategy will be supported by the continuing vaccine programme.