A quarter of a million booster jabs administered today

224,000 booster jabs were administered today as the government aims to speed up the vaccine rollout.

Yesterday Sajid Javid warned that if people did not go to receive their booster jabs when asked, it could risk the country bringing back compulsory masks.

Despite this there 52,009 new cases, the highest since 17 July. There are also 6,366 patients in hospital in England, the highest number since 13 September.

Labour are yet to call for Plan B, which would bring back compulsory mask wearing in crowded areas, to be brought forward, despite NHS staff calling for it. Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told Times Radio this afternoon: “We are in favour of Plan B”.

But in a quick turnaround, a Labour spokesperson said that the party is not yet supporting Plan B, and rather are in favour of “making Plan A work”.