Filenews 22 December 2020
The British government will take "stronger" measures if cases of coronavirus continue to rise significantly, Home Secretary Priti Patel said this morning.
Her statement follows last night's remark by the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Valance that "on the basis of the evidence this virus is easily transmitted (...) and we absolutely need to ensure that we have the appropriate level of restrictions in place."
While he pointed out that the decision on a possible lockdown across England like the one in force from Sunday in London and in the south-east is a matter of political decision, he added: "I think it is likely that the numbers (of cases) of this mutant strain will increase across the country and I think it is likely that measures will need to be increased in time in some areas. , not to be reduced'.
The next assessment date for the measures in each region of England is set for 30 December, with many reports referring to the prospect of a general ban in the country from New Year's Day.
Of serious concern, meanwhile, is the large increase in the number of imports of COVID-19 carriers into UK hospitals, which is largely attributed to the new strain of the virus.
On Monday it was announced that in a 24-hour period there were 2,034 new hospitals that put the number of Covid patients in hospitals at 18,771.
Hospitals in England alone are nursing 16,526 patients with the disease. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty is reported to have warned Prime Minister Johnson that if the current rate of increase in cases is maintained, then the number of 18,974 hospitalised bodies at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic on April 12 will be equal by New Year's Eve.
In London hospitals, hospital admissions have reached 2,960, having increased by 68% in two weeks.
A spokesman for the NHS national health system said hospitals would need "decisive action" from the government to tackle the pandemic and carry out the vaccination programme seamlessly.
Source: RES-BE
