Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has set a date to achieve zero community transmission of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Total eradication of SARS-CoV-2 globally is unlikely – unless there is some unexpected biological change in the virus. Elimination nationally (i.e. bringing the number of locally acquired cases to zero) may be possible transiently but is highly unlikely to be possible permanently.

A great national effort has helped to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. We have successfully managed to push the R number below 1 and have seen a continual reduction in the number of newly confirmed cases, which we are continuing to see as we reopen parts of society. As we continue to go back to normality in our lives, we all have a part to play in ensuring that we stay alert, to keep R below 1 and reduce transmission.