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These are the UK coronavirus stories you need to know today.
New blocking measures
New measures have been predicted to address the increase in COVID-19 cases in England, with at least one report today claiming that the plan has already been approved by Number 10.
A three-tier system of local lockdowns has been touted as the most likely answer as the government tries to balance health measures and the fragile economy.
Under the system, different regions of England would fall into different categories depending on the rates of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The strategy was followed yesterday by the Scottish government, which introduced stricter rules, including restrictions on the opening hours of bars and restaurants in the central belt, which includes Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed to the BBC earlier that the government “is currently considering what action to take.”
Today it was widely reported that pubs and restaurants could be closed for a time in some of the worst affected areas of England.
The times He stated that the strategy had already been approved by the Prime Minister and that it would be accompanied by additional financial support for affected companies.
The timing of any additional measures was unclear, although some commenters suggested they could be introduced next week.
Daily data
In today’s daily data, a further 17,540 positive tests were reported in the UK and 77 deaths.
There are 3,412 COVID-19 patients in the hospital and 442 ventilation beds are in use.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, England’s Medical Director of Public Health, commented: “We are seeing a definite and sustained increase in hospital admissions and cases. The trend is clear and it is very worrying.”
Additional funding to support coronavirus enforcement rules
Police forces and city councils in England have been told they will receive an additional £ 60 million to boost patrols that enforce coronavirus rules.
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, said: “This additional funding will strengthen the role of the police in law enforcement and ensure that those who endanger public health face the consequences.”
The government said police will also be asked to provide more support to local authorities and the NHS Test & Trace in enforcing self-isolation regulations.
Mortality from COVID-19 exceeds flu and pneumonia
More than three times more people have died from COVID-19 in England and Wales this year than from pneumonia and influenza, official figures showed.
Between the beginning of January and the end of August, there were 48,168 deaths from COVID-19 compared to 13,619 deaths from pneumonia and 394 deaths from the flu.
The Office for National Statistics said the trend was particularly evident between March and June.
Deaths attributed to COVID-19 were 23.7% higher in men than in women, the figures showed.
The proportion of deaths in nursing homes due to COVID-19 through the end of August was 30%, compared to 15.2% from pneumonia and flu, the statisticians reported.
Asymptomatic patients
A study led by University College London found that more than three-quarters of people who tested positive for COVID-19 during lockdown were asymptomatic.
The research, published in the journal Clinical epidemiology, involved 36,061 people from the ONS Coronavirus study living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who underwent tests between April 26 and June 27.
Of 115 who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 76.5% did not report any symptoms on the day they were tested.
A more widespread testing program was necessary to capture the “silent” transmission of the virus, the authors concluded.
Commenting on the study to the Science Media Center, Professor Patrick Maxwell, director of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, said the findings underscored that “social distancing and other measures are very important, and there will be great benefits for public health in terms of reducing transmission if we can reliably identify asymptomatic individuals and then self-isolate. “
However, Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said that it is “definitely not the case” that asymptomatic people remain asymptomatic at all times.
Nurses demand a pay increase
Politicians should replace “hollow” applause in support of health personnel and grant a fair wage increase, the leader of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said today.
Dame Donna Kinnair was speaking at a virtual conference held by the College when the RCN released its formal submission to the Government’s anticipated spending review in November.
The document called for a 12.5% pay increase for NHS nurses.
He accused the prime minister of ignoring a request during the summer from 14 health unions to discuss payment following the strain on the health system as a result of the pandemic.
He said he had a short message for Boris Johnson: “We don’t want applause, medals or badges – this time, just pay us just for the hard work we do.”
Dame Donna also spoke out against the perception that nursing was “a calling” and “women’s work” saying this was “harmful and disrespectful”, allowing “wages to be suppressed”.
See more global updates on coronavirus at Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
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