New Delhi: The healthcare lobby group said on Wednesday that the coronavirus appears to be rearing its ugly head again in Britain, as its hospitals are closed to be overwhelmed by a new wave of Covid-19 infections Calls for stricter sanctions.
However, the government indicated it was not the time for a new lockdown, according to Reuters. Britain on Tuesday recorded 223 new deaths from the infection, the highest daily figure since March, and the highest number of cases in Europe.
What is the government’s stand?
“There will not be a new lockdown of the UK economy, even as cases spiral upward and Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns of a tough winter ahead,” Business Secretary Quasi Quarteng said. Trade Minister Quasi Quarteng said another lockdown would be wrong as well as downplayed the possibility that more limited measures would be taken soon.
“Ministers, scientists, experts are looking at the data on an hourly basis,” he told the BBC. “And we don’t think right now is the time for Plan B.”
Johnson reiterated once again that Britain’s early success with vaccinations meant England would navigate a bumpy winter without the need for a new lockdown, having previously shut down the economy three times.
So far, Britain has recorded the eighth-highest worldwide death toll from the coronavirus, according to the agency’s report, with nearly 139,000 people dead. It is one of several countries that launched a vaccine program early and Prime Minister Boris Johnson also lifted almost all Covid-19 restrictions in England and ended social distancing measures.
What are the opinions of health experts?
On the other hand, doctors have expressed concern that the increase in hospital visits of Covid-19 patients, along with pressure on the NHS from the seasonal virus, could leave hospitals unable to deal with long waiting lists and function normally.
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor called for measures that Johnson has in reserve, including wearing a mask and working from home, that would only be minor inconveniences and could avoid stumbling blocks in the crisis.
“I talk to health leaders every day, and I literally haven’t spoken to a leader who doesn’t say that their service is now under extreme pressure. It’s mid-October. Things are only going to get worse, Taylor told BBC Radio.
The accelerated introduction of vaccines in Europe will also mean that those first vaccinated may have reduced immunity, and scientists are pleading for an increase in the speed of booster shots.
See below health equipment-
Calculate your body mass index (BMI)
.