LONDON: England is “back in sight” of a coronavirus storm, health chiefs warned on Tuesday (December 29), with as many patients in hospital as at the first peak in April.
A new strain of the virus appears to be behind the recent rise in cases, putting additional pressure on the state-run National Health Service during the busiest winter period.
NHS England figures showed there were 20,426 COVID-19 patients in the country’s hospitals on Monday, compared to the peak of 18,974 recorded in the first wave.
NOTE: British reports record the daily number of new COVID-19 cases, amounting to 40,000
LEARN: British hospitals are scrambling for space as COVID-19 cases go up
The number of advanced tests recorded over a 24-hour period also hit a new high of 41,385 on Monday, according to government figures, although tests are now much broader.
However, case figures do not include Scotland and Northern Ireland, which were not reported at Christmas.
“Many of us have lost family, friends, colleagues and – at a time of year when we would normally celebrate – many people sensibly feel anxiety, harassment and fatigue,” said a chief executive. NHS England, Simon Stevens.
“And now again we are back in the eye of the storm with the second wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe and, indeed, this country.”
Britain is pushing its hopes on its major vaccine program, with the Oxford / AstraZeneca injection expected to be approved soon, according to reports.
“We believe that by the end of spring with the advent of vaccine provision we will be able to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable people across this country,” Stevens said.
“That’s probably giving the chink the most hope for the year ahead.”
NOTE: Millions face new UK COVID-19 restrictions; mitigating boundary disorder
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Health trusts have been told to start planning for the use of Nightingale field hospitals, the temporary facilities created during the first wave that are largely unused.
London and the south east of England are currently suffering the uprising, with paramedics in the capital saying they receive up to 8,000 emergency calls a day.
The London Ambulance Service described Boxing Day – December 26 – as one of the “busiest days ever”.
Another 357 people who tested positive for the virus on Monday were reported to have died, bringing the total UK population to 71,109, the second worst tax in Europe.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been on fire for his government’s handling of the pandemic, and is now under pressure to introduce more social restrictions, including school closures after Christmas holidays.
More than 24 million people – 43 per cent of England – already live under the most stringent regional restrictions.
The uprising has hit Manchester City Premier League football giants, continuing to postpone their game with Everton on Monday night.
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