A Downing Street coronavirus briefing was held on 20 October 2021. The briefing was headed by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the United Kingdom, Sajid Javid, Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive, UK Health Security Agency and Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director, NHS England.
Watch the 20 October COVID press conference
Questions from the public started at 32:50 minutes
Questions from the press started at 35:50 minutes
This is the official Downing Street YouTube video with BSL translation
The official Downing Street video shown above, shows a YouTube screenshot of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who did not take part in the briefing.
Points from the 20 October COVID press conference
- New antiviral treatments could be available this winter (Sajid Javid)
- The Government will not be implementing the Plan B strategy at the moment (Sajid Javid)
- If people do not get vaccinated or fail to make behavioural changes, it is more likely that restrictions will return (Sajid Javid)
- The fully-vaccinated advised to wear face coverings (Dr Jenny Harries)
- If people do not get vaccinated or fail to make behavioural changes, it is more likely that restrictions will return (Sajid Javid)
- If we all play our part, then we can give ourselves the best possible chance in this race, get through this winter, and enjoy Christmas with our loved ones (Sajid Javid)
Slides and datasets that accompanied the 20 October COVID press conference
View the slides on the government’s website
Download the datasets (as a spreadsheet) from the government’s website