The British, who are vaccinating people at risk according to risk groups, are preparing to celebrate: the day without deaths from COVID-19

Four COVID-19 deaths were reported in the UK on Tuesday this week, up to 28 days after a positive test result. Only one death was recorded on Monday.

It seems that a few months of painful quarantine in the face of more contagious strains of coronavirus and the rapid vaccination of the population with effective vaccines have given their thing: now there is clear optimism in the country.

Quarantine and vaccines are the formula for success

It’s hard to forget the brutal winter. In January alone, almost 32,000 cases were reported in the UK. deaths from COVID-19, and experts have already said that such figures must be directly related to the lack of publication of the quarantine in time.

However, there were only 753 deaths in April, and there should be even fewer in May. It is worth remembering that last time a day, no coronavirus deaths were recorded more than nine months ago, but now such cases are likely to occur as early as May.

Clearly, one day means little. People will continue to die from COVID-19 for the time being, and removing restrictions on visiting from friends or family is likely to increase the number of infections.

However, it is very important to ensure that few deaths are recorded each day. That goal is possible and several factors are relevant.

Earlier this year, the quarantine helped control the spread of the epidemic and lowered the R-score, which shows the average number of people infected per person infected. As soon as the R score fell below 1, the epidemic began to wane, and of course fewer infections resulted in fewer deaths.

Then he contributed an ambitious vaccination campaign. In the same January and February, the United Kingdom gained momentum and the first vaccines were administered to the most vulnerable populations, who were at the highest risk of dying from COVID-19.

Importantly, the vaccine further lowered the R score further, even if vaccinated people were infected with the coronavirus (rarely possible, ed.), These latter particles were less likely to enter the respiratory tract, thus that the infection was generally not transmitted.

Careful balancing

The British National Health Service (NHS) vaccination strategy has been based on the goal of protecting, in particular, populations at increased risk of serious illness or death.

Scientists call this solution the most important, the most logical, and even the simplest. After all, people in nine major priority population groups got vaccinated first.

The doses were for extremely vulnerable people taking medications that weaken their immune systems, people with chronic diseases, and eventually anyone over the age of 50.

The statistics speak volumes. 99 percent. Deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in this particular UK population, numbering 32 million. people.

At least 95 percent. The UK population aged 50 and over received at least one dose, beating even the most optimistic scientists’ predictions.

Yes, before the start of the vaccination campaign, the state could only rely on data from clinical trials; specialists were unsure of the effectiveness of vaccines in the real world.

But the answers are now clear because the information is no longer missing. The first good news was the news that the British are very willing to vaccinate, at least 95%. The population aged 50 years and over received at least one dose and therefore exceeded even the most optimistic predictions of scientists.

Then came the data on the impressive effects of vaccines. It was found that only a very small proportion of people had to go to the hospital if they had been vaccinated with at least one dose three weeks ago, which is logical, as the body develops an adequate immune response in two to three weeks.

Models released in March show that up to COVID-19 deaths can be recorded in the UK in May and June. It is true that growth is expected in July and August.

“It is not clear if the growth will be significant. The real art is to combine reducing the number of infections with removing restrictions by vaccinating more and more people. So far, the balance has been good: the first two stages the release did not lead to an increase in cases.

But now we have to wait for the third and fourth stages. Because older people and vulnerable citizens have been vaccinated, there will not be many deaths, but the protection will not be 100% because no vaccine provides complete protection, “warned Ian Sample, science news editor for The Guardian.