Responding to reports of a new Covid variant Dr David Wrigley, BMA council deputy chair, said: “The news of the variant comes at a really crucial time for the NHS as healthcare teams prepare for their most challenging time in NHS history. It’s even more important now that measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing become mandatory and it’s vital that people have their vaccination, and their booster, once offered.
“Our recommendation has always been that people should wear masks in indoor crowded spaces, that they should adhere to social distancing guidelines, and that public buildings, offices and hospitality venues have adequate ventilation to disperse the virus as much as possible. It is also vital that all healthcare workers who need it have access to the highest-grade PPE, that risk assessments are conducted and that the clinically extremely vulnerable continue to be protected. We know that the recently updated infection control guidance still does not adequately protect staff and now more than ever, this needs to be improved to keep staff and patients at as low a risk as possible.”