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Britain’s top medical adviser is now warning of a dramatic increase in the number of corona cases.
The number of new cases of infection may rise to 49,000 cases per day in mid-October if drastic measures are not taken.
– There is no doubt that we are in a critical situation, says the country’s top health official, Chris Whitty, at a press conference.
The average number of infections per day in the UK is now around 3,600, which is the highest number since May.
However, the government hopes to keep the number below the record levels of April, when the number of infections topped 5,000 cases a day.
Despite the fact that the number of deaths so far has been at a relatively low level, authorities are now warning that the number of deaths may also increase in the coming weeks, as more and more infected people need hospital care.
Over the weekend, the UK government discussed how to deal with the sharp rise in crown drops in the country in recent weeks, and is expected to come up with several new measures during the week to halt the spread of the infection.
Photo: Alberto Pezzali / TT
Britain’s top health official, Chris Whitty, left.
New restrictions expected
As early as last week, the British government introduced stricter restrictions for communities in the northeastern parts of the country, where the spread of the infection has increased.
Among other things, bars and restaurants must be closed between 22 and 05 and you can only hang out with people who live in the same household.
On Monday, Britain’s top health officials Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, official scientific advisers to the government, held a press conference claiming that development was heading in the wrong direction.
– There is no doubt that we are in a situation in which the number of cases is increasing, says Vallance, adding that the increase occurs in all age groups and is due to more cases of contagion and not to the increase in tests .
Photograph: Matt Dunham / TT
Protester i London.
Can be infected 49,000 per day
He further explained that the number of new cases per day is around 3,000 people and is doubling every week. If nothing drastic is done, the number of new cases will rise to 49,000 cases a day by mid-October.
– In November, this means that we would have about 200 deaths per day.
Chris Whitty also emphasizes that the UK is in a critical situation and is now investigating how to slow the progress of the virus as it now enters a challenging winter period.
– There is no indication that the progress or power of the virus has diminished, but we must see this as a problem of the next 6 months that we must take very seriously. This is no longer anyone’s problem, but everyone’s.
Brittle balancing act
He points out that there is a greater spread of the infection among younger adults, but that it is mainly the elderly who are at risk of ending up in the hospital.
– Treatment for covid-19 has improved significantly and we have new drugs that reduce mortality, but none of this permanently eliminates it completely.
In conclusion, Chris Whitty points out that everything is a fragile balancing act.
– If the number of cases continues to increase drastically, we run the risk of losing control, but if, on the other hand, we do too much, we run the risk of having significant economic consequences, which can lead to unemployment, poverty and depression, which which has long-term negative effects on society. So it’s a very difficult balancing act that we all have to deal with here.
Photograph: Matt Dunham / TT
Protester i London.
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