Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Wednesday said that the government won't be implementing the so-called plan B strategy of its fall-winter Covid plan, defying warnings from health leaders that the country risks "stumbling into a winter crisis.".

"We are looking closely at the data and we won't be implementing our plan B of contingency measures at this point," Javid said, speaking at the government's first coronavirus news conference in more than a month.

health-care sector, warned some Covid restrictions must be reintroduced "without delay" if the government is to keep people healthy and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed this winter.

recorded 49,139 new Covid cases on Wednesday, according to the latest government data, and 179 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Officials from the World Health Organization on Wednesday noted the rise in cases across Europe, including in the U.K., blaming it at least in part on the easing of Covid restrictions.

"As societies are opening up, we're seeing those numbers rise, and in a number of countries, we're already seeing the health system begin to come under pressure, we're seeing the number of available ICU beds decreasing.".

WHO warns of rise in Covid cases across Europe for third consecutive week as restrictions are eased   

If the NHS was deemed to be at risk of coming under unsustainable pressure, Javid said those contingency measures could kick in across England