LONDON: National coronavirus restrictions needed to prevent “catastrophe” amid emerging diseases, an expert has warned, as English hospitals treat more Covid-19 patients than at April height of the first wave.
Tighter measures are needed to deal with the new variant of the virus, which is the main reason for the rise in cases, said Professor Andrew Hayward, of the New and New Respiratory Virus Risk Advisory Group ( Nervtag) of the government.
Reopening schools would require “tight, tight restrictions” in other areas of society “pay for that”, he said. NHS England’s chief executive, Sir Simon Stevens, has warned that doctors and nurses are “back in the eye of the storm”. Figures from NHS England show that there were 20,426 patients in NHS hospitals in England at 8am on Monday, compared to the 18,974 patients enrolled on 12 April. Sir Simon said: “Many of us have lost family, friends, colleagues and – at one time of the year when we would celebrate as usual – many people sensibly feel anxiety, frustration and fatigue. And now, once again, we are back in the eye of the storm with the second wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe and, indeed, this country. “
Professor Hayward, professor of infectious epidemiological diseases at University College London, said the broad restrictions of Level 4 – or even higher – appear to be needed as the country moves to towards “near lockout”. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “I think we are entering a dangerous new phase of the pandemic and we are going to need decisive, early, national action. to prevent a catastrophe in January
and February.
“A 50 per cent increase in referrals means that the previous levels of restrictions will no longer work, so it is likely that Level 4 restrictions or even higher will be required. .
“I think we are really looking at a situation where we are moving in close to a lockdown, but we need to learn the lessons from the first lock. ”
Pressure is continuing on the government to delay the reopening of secondary schools in January amid concerns about their contribution to emerging issues. Two teaching unions have warned that allowing students to return will put them at risk of catching new versions of Covid-19.
Dr Hayward said he believed schools needed to return “perhaps a little later” and that reopening would mean “we need to have increased tight, tight barriers in other areas of the school.” society to pay for that ”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), welcomed the government’s plans to offer remote support troops for exams in schools, but warned that it did not appear to be enough.
Sir Simon said the various Covid-19 vaccines have a “chin of hope”, with the Oxford / AstraZeneca injection expected to be approved soon by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, according to reports.
He said: “We believe that by the end of the spring, with vaccine supply still to come, we will be able to offer Covid vaccine to vulnerable people across this country. That is perhaps the biggest hope for the year ahead. “
But the current vaccine target needs to be doubled to two million injections a week to avoid the third wave of the virus, according to a forecast from a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine paper reported by the Telegraph. The government said 357 more. people have died within 28 days of taking a positive test for Covid-19 as of Monday, bringing the total UK population to 71,109.
