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Boris Johnson has warned the British that the “only way” to avoid a new national lockdown is to follow the latest coronavirus rules.
the Prime Minister, flanked by his top medical and scientific advisers for the hundredth coronavirus In a Downing Street report from the start of the pandemic, it said the UK was facing a “critical moment” in fighting COVID-19.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said there had been a “significant increase” in the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care in north-east England, north-west England and London.
“The direction of travel for both hospitals and intensive care is going in the wrong direction, particularly in areas that have seen rapid increases in cases,” said Professor Whitty.
There has been a ‘significant increase’ in COVID-19 patients in intensive care in some parts of the country
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, admitted that “we don’t have this under control at the moment.”
He also warned: “This is going in the wrong direction, there is no reason for complacency.”
Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that another 7,108 coronavirus cases and 71 deaths have been registered in the UK.
Professor Whitty said that while the virus was not doubling as fast as in March, it did not mean that parts of the country could not be seriously affected anytime soon.
“This small number of deaths now should not ensure that we will not be, in a relatively short time, in quite difficult places, certainly in the regions where we are seeing significant growth right now,” he said.
And Sir Patrick added that “it would be wrong” to think that the virus is only a problem in certain parts of the country.
“It is worse in certain areas, but there is evidence of spread everywhere and we must be aware of that: everyone must take precautions across the country,” he said.
Johnson recently introduced the “rule of six” in England and last week imposed a 10pm curfew in pubs, bars and restaurants.
He repeatedly pleaded with the public to follow the new national restrictions, as well as the localized measures that have been introduced across much of the UK.
The prime minister also refused to rule out further measures to curb the spread of the broadcast.
He said ministers and scientists would have to “watch what is happening” in order to avoid another national blockade, as enforced in the spring.
“What we’re not doing right now is going back to where we were in March,” Johnson said.
“And I really don’t want to do this. I don’t want to go back to a national lockdown where the general guideline is to stay at home, that’s not what we’re saying.”
“We want to keep the economy moving. We want young people, students to continue in education.
“But the only way we can do it is if we all follow the lead and suppress the virus.”
Johnson said the prospect of new national restrictions was “totally dependent on how effective we are now in collectively fighting the virus.”
“We know we can do it because we did it before, in March and April,” he added.
But the prime minister suggested that the virus may now be spreading in a different way than it did in March.
“We are seeing some very clear local peaks,” he said.
“It may be that this is a more localized phenomenon this time, in which case all the more reason to focus on these local solutions, as well as these national solutions.”
The number of hospital admissions is headed ‘in the wrong direction’
Mr. Johnson was forced to apologize Tuesday for getting confused with his own coronavirus rules.
He urged people to use their “common sense” as well as to search the internet for the latest restrictions in their local area.
“People will notice various discrepancies or complications, complexities that have arisen as a result of this local focus,” he said.
“The best I can tell you is everyone in the Northeast or anywhere else, in Merseyside, Midlands, everywhere there are local restrictions, go to the websites, look at exactly what you are supposed to do.
“A lot of this has to do with common sense and following the basics of the guide and limiting the possibility of transmission from yourself to someone else, or from someone else to you.”
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The prime minister also reiterated his removal of those who believe that “we must surrender and let the virus run its course despite the huge loss of life that it would potentially entail.”
He added: “I don’t think that’s what the British want, I don’t think they want to throw away the sponge.”
“They want to fight and defeat this virus and that is what we are going to do.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said there would have to be a “national effort” to avoid a second national lockdown.
But he added that “the government side of the deal here is to have a very clear strategy to keep that infection rate low and we don’t see that strategy.”
He also called for an “urgent review” to determine whether local closures were working in a way that is intended to reduce infection rates.
