That picture prompted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to order a third national lockout that began Tuesday and urges everyone in England to stay at home for at least the remaining six weeks. exercise, medical appointments, necessary purchases and a few other limited exceptions.
“It is no hyperbole to say that the (National Health Service) is going through the most difficult times as a living memory,” said Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at King’s Fund, a UK think tank. focuses on health and social care. “I was speaking to an emergency care doctor from London last week, and she said that half of her movement was spent delivering care in ambulances because they could not help. admit patients to the emergency department. ″
The lock ran across the country from England from November 5 to December 5. Announcing the stay-at-home order, Johnson said it will not be reviewed for construction until mid-February. at least. By then, the government hopes to give a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine to about 13 million people most at risk, allowing it to rest a bit in the confines.
Under the latest lockout, schools and outdoor sports facilities are closed along with bars, restaurants, a hair salon, gyms, theaters and most shops.
“The next few weeks are still the toughest, but I truly believe we are entering the final stage of the struggle,” Johnson told the nation on Monday night. “With every injection that goes into our arms, we are pushing for COVID and for the British people. ”
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon also suspended, which began on Tuesday. Northern Ireland and Wales had already implemented strict measures, although there are different rules. Each country in the United Kingdom controls its own health policy under the country’s system of devolved government.
Johnson and Sturgeon said the restrictions were needed to protect the National Health Service under pressure as a new, more contagious variant of coronavirus swabbing across Britain. On Monday, hospitals in England were treating 26,626 COVID-19 patients, 40% more than during the first peak in mid-April.
Many hospitals in the UK have already had to cancel elective surgeries and the pressure to deal with the pandemic could delay cancer surgery and limit intensive care services for patients. without COVID-19.
In December, 2,930 people had to wait 12 hours or more before hospitals could get beds for them, the Health Service Journal said Monday, citing figures released by the National Health Service. The previous high of 2,847 was reported waiting at least 12 hours for a hospital bed in January 2020.
Public health officials hope the new lock will reduce pressure on the NHS as it implements a national vaccination program aimed at the elderly, healthcare workers and those particularly at risk from COVID-19. Britain has agreed two vaccine designs so far – one from Pfizer-BioNTech and the other from Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
On Monday, the NHS had vaccinated 1.3 million people across the UK The government expects to have nearly 1,000 vaccination centers in operation nationwide by the end of this week, Johnson said.
While the roll-out of the vaccine program is complex, Anandaciva from King’s Fund said the structure of the NHS will help it deliver the scenes. In addition to a national network of hospitals, doctors and nurses, it can rely on other allied health care professionals, such as pharmacists, to deliver the vaccine.
“That is one area where you can maximize the benefits of a nationalized service with which you can… set up hubs, bring staff together, and have a strong brand to attract people, ″ he said . “I think the NHS is doing a good job setting up logistics so you can get the vaccine in the right places.”
In the meantime, grants are being awarded to help businesses become more subject to the new rules. Grants of up to 9,000 pounds ($ 12,200) will be offered to businesses in the sales, hospitality and leisure sectors.
“The new strain of the virus poses a major challenge for all of us – and, while the vaccine is being rolled out, we need to tighten up,” said Finance chief Rishi Sunak. “Through the pandemic we have taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we are announcing another injection of money to support businesses and jobs until the spring. ”
Johnson announced the lock-up after senior medical officials in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales raised the UK-wide COVID-19 threat assessment. The health system is already under “a lot of pressure,” they said.
The new measures are similar to those introduced last spring, with people being urged to work from home if it is not impossible to do so, and to leave home alone. for exercise or essential trips such as grocery shopping. Schools across England have been ordered to close their doors except the children of emergency workers and most vulnerable children, with a move to online guidance starting Tuesday. University students will not return to campus until at least mid-February.
All nonessential shops and personal care services will remain as a closed hairdresser. Restaurants will only be allowed to offer catch-up services.
New COVID-19 infections have gone up in recent weeks as public health officials struggle to keep up with the new strain, which the government says is 50% to 70% more contagious . The number of new daily infections diagnosed in the last seven days jumped 50% from the previous week, while coronavirus-related deaths rose 21% in the same period.
Britain reported 830 coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday. The death toll from pandemic is now at 76,423, one of the highest in the world.
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