NHS app crashes just hours after Boris announces Covid passes as part of Plan B

Yesterday evening the Prime Minister announced that the Government’s Plan B of Covid restrictions would be put in place in England.

This was just days after saying we wouldn’t need the set of measures – including a return to work from home guidance and mandatory Covid passes for crowded venues.

The move was made in response to the spread of the Omicron variant, which scientists say could overtake Delta as the UK’s dominant strain.

Users reported on social media being unable to download their domestic or travel passes from the NHS England app.

Those who tried to download the domestic pass were faced with a loading screen before it diverted to a page outlining how to get the pass.

Others wanting to download their travel pass were presented with messages saying ‘An unexpected error has occurred’.

A further statement issued later added: ‘We are continuing to investigate the current issues with the NHS COVID Pass and will provide an update as soon as possible. We apologise for any issues this may have caused and appreciate your patience as we work to resolve it.’

But deaths are still falling, and strain has not landed anyone in hospital so far. However scientists warn another wave could lead to a peak of 1,000-2,000 admissions per day unless new rules are put in place.

Some Government sources have suggested yesterday’s announcement could be an attempt to distract from Number 10’s latest embarrassing scandal.

The Prime Minister has continued to deflect questions over reports that a Christmas party was held at Downing Street last December, when London and the South East was under a Tier 4 lockdown.

Since then more allegations have been made, with claims Conservative members could have held as many as seven parties between November and December.

Meanwhile most members of the public stayed at home as instructed, some of whom didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to their dying loved ones in hospital.

It’s put Johnson under increasing pressure to resign, with more than half of the public and a third of Conservative voters thinking he should stand down, according to a damning new poll.