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The death toll in hospitals from coronavirus in the UK has skyrocketed by 478.
England reported 361 deaths, Scotland 64, Wales 45 and Northern Ireland 8 announced to bring the overall tally to 478.
The number is a big jump from Tuesday, which recorded 372 deaths in hospitals, and Wednesday of last week when 406 people died.
The news comes as England’s deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, explained how the timetable for developing and approving a vaccine had been condensed from the usual several years due to the coronavirus crisis.
But despite the swift approval process, the deputy CMO splashed cold water on himself to get back on track this Easter.
He said vaccines will not be an exclusion clause for the second wave.
(Image: Julian Hamilton / Daily Mirror)
“There are no shortcuts to the future,” he told a reporter at the briefing.
Professor Van-Tam said next week will be an NHS briefing on implementation plans, expected to start on December 1, and that he will not “steal the thunder” from them giving details.
But he said the obvious questions include whether there is enough cooling capacity, whether the transport systems are adequate, and whether there are enough needles and syringes.
“The answer to which I am very calm in all those points. An absolute army of people has been working on this for months behind the scenes, in silence, ”he said.
(Image: Getty Images)
“However, I am absolutely convinced that the huge NHS team behind this has understood the importance and challenge of the project and is ready for it.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Tuesday that he expected GPs to play an important role in administering any coronavirus injection.
But GPs have said they will need support to implement the Covid-19 vaccination program, as health chiefs acknowledged that some other family doctor services may need to be reduced.
Professor Martin Marshall, president of the Royal College of GP, said existing pressures meant that family doctors would need the help of their colleagues to manage the vaccination program.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today show on Wednesday that it was okay for GPs to be at the center of vaccination, but added: “We cannot do everything with current resources.
“The problem here is mainly about the staff.
“We can’t do the usual things that we do in general practice: caring for patients with acute illnesses, dealing with people who might have cancer, dealing with people who have long-term conditions, continuing to administer immunizations, other immunization programs, at al the same time that the vaccine is delivered without having additional personnel ”.
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