Covid Autumn and Winter Plan
Over autumn and winter, the government will aim to:
Building our defences through pharmaceutical interventions
Identifying and isolating positive cases to limit transmission
Supporting the NHS and social care
Advising people on how to protect themselves and others
Pursuing an international approach
See the Gov.UK news story and the NCC news item Region's leaders welcome Covid winter plan
Covid Autumn and Winter Plan
Over autumn and winter, the government will aim to:
Building our defences through pharmaceutical interventions
Identifying and isolating positive cases to limit transmission
Supporting the NHS and social care
Advising people on how to protect themselves and others
Pursuing an international approach
See the Gov.UK news story and the NCC news item Region's leaders welcome Covid winter plan
The Plan
This document outlines the government’s plans for autumn and winter 2021 for England.
It includes the Government’s “Plan A” - a comprehensive approach designed to steer the country through autumn and winter 2021/22.
It also outlines a Plan B which would only be enacted if the data suggests further measures are necessary to protect the NHS.
Plan A: Increase vaccination numbers, encourage ventilation, face coverings, testing, hand washing and using the NHS Covid-19 App.
Plan B: Covid passports, mandatory face masks and working from home.
These are the sections and subsections of the Plan:
1. Introduction
2. Building Our Defences Through Pharmaceutical Interventions
Vaccines
Antivirals and therapeutics
3. Identifying and Isolating Positive Cases to Limit Transmission
4. Supporting The NHS and Social Care
Long COVID
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable guidance and shielding advice
Adult Social Care
Getting a vaccine for influenza (flu)
5. Advising People on how to Protect Themselves and Others
Safer behaviours and actions that reduce the spread of COVID-19
Businesses
Using the NHS COVID Pass
Ventilation
6. Pursuing an International Approach: Helping Vaccinate the World and Managing Risks at the Border
Managing risks at the border
Helping vaccinate the world
Plan B
Communications
Mandatory Vaccine-only COVID-status Certification
Legally mandating face coverings in additional settings
Advice to work from home
Variants of Concern
Local management of the virus
View, download or print a PDF version of the Plan here.
The Guidance
The Guidance Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread has been updated to reflect the Autumn and Winter Plan.
Contents:
Understanding the risks of COVID-19
Keeping yourself and others safe
Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
Get tested, and self-isolate if required
Take tests if you do not have symptoms to help manage your risk
Try to stay at home if you’re feeling unwell
Wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes
Understanding your personal risk in different settings and scenarios
New system for international travel
From 4 October, the current traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories.
Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers coming from non-red list countries - they will no longer need to take a pre-departure test when travelling to England, take a day 8 COVID-19 test or quarantine for 10 days after they arrive in England.
See the guidance Changes to international travel rules