[ad_1]
A senior cabinet minister admitted that local closures “have not yet seen the impact that we would like to have seen” as tough new restrictions are expected to be introduced across much of the north of England.
Robert Jenrick, the community secretary, said the measures imposed on millions of people more than two months ago would have helped flatten the curve, but had not been as effective as expected.
Boris johnson
“We are not only controlling the pandemic, with very, very low deaths and hospital admissions, but we will continue to address it, with local closures and with our superlative test and trace system.”
Boris johnson
“NHS Test and Trace is doing a heroic job, and today most people get a test result in person in 24 hours, and the average trip is less than 10 miles if someone has to make a trip to get one … [To Keir Starmer] We make the tough decisions, all he does is sit on the sidelines and tent. “
Boris johnson
[On the ‘moonshot’ proposal for mass, near-instant testing:] “We are hopeful that this approach will go mainstream by spring, and if it all comes together, even challenging sectors like theaters may have a much closer to normal life before Christmas.”Boris johnson
“We don’t have enough testing capacity now because, in an ideal world, I would like to test absolutely everyone who wants a test right away … Yes, there is a long way to go, and we will work day and night to make sure we go. there.”
Matt hancock
“Of course there is a challenge in testing … We have sent tests to all schools to make sure they have tests available. But of course I also recognize the challenges of getting the evidence … The evidence is available, although it is a challenge to get. “
“We know and understand that in some of the places where we have imposed local restrictions, we have not yet seen the impact that we would like to have seen, and we understand that this is extremely frustrating for people in those areas,” he said. he told Sky News on Thursday.
Millions of people in the north of England and Nottinghamshire face new restrictions in a few days, including the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants, amid growing alarm in Whitehall over a sharp increase in hospital admissions.
Helen Stokes-Lampard, president of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said there had been a worrying increase in hospital patients, particularly among those who required ventilation and were the most seriously ill.
He said the data “didn’t look good” and that the number of Covid patients in UK hospitals had risen dramatically to 3,100, up from a few hundred over the past month. About 500 of those patients were in intensive care, he said.
“That is really worrying. A month ago we only had 60 people across the UK at ITU [intensive care unit] Beds. So we are seeing a very worrying trend at the moment. “
The ministers will announce a three-tier traffic light system of lockdown measures in a bid to prevent the exponential rise in overwhelming hospital cases.
The Guardian’s analysis found that infections had doubled in most towns and cities under long-term lockdowns.
David Mellen, the head of Nottingham city council, said he expected restrictions on the hotel industry to be announced next week, warning that the delay would lead to people “having one last blast” this weekend.
“It seems that we are victims of a change in the government’s approach, and therefore, although we have very high figures that we know about since the beginning of the week, we have to wait until next week for the government to introduce what we hope will be. new restrictions in Nottingham, ”he said.
“There’s a chance that this weekend people will think this is the last chance before Christmas, let’s go out and party, and we can’t have that.”
Jenrick admitted that the restrictions had not eliminated the virus, but said the infection rate “would almost certainly be even higher than it is today and even stricter restrictions could now be considered” if they had not been imposed.
The communities secretary said ministers wanted to take a more coherent approach and were considering the right action to take in the northwest, northeast and parts of the Midlands, where cases have soared in recent weeks.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today show: “It is right that we take a considered perspective on this and not be too quick to judge, and that is exactly what we are doing right now. We are taking a proportionate and regional approach.
“We are in regular contact with mayors and local council leaders… we want to bring local leaders with us and make decisions in the friendliest way possible, but it is correct that the final decision is made by the government, guided by the director. doctor “.
