The media has reported the highest Covid-19 mortality rates in the UK since March this year. While the UK government has lifted all restrictions, health officials say the country is going through a third wave of the disease. The highest number of Covid-19 deaths in the UK since March has prompted a senior government health official to warn that the pandemic is not over.
Decrease in Morbidity and Increase in Mortality
On Tuesday 27 July, 23,511 cases were reported in the UK, indicating that the number of cases continued to decline for the seventh day. But according to the latest information, the number of deaths has reached 131 people, which is the highest number since 17 March 2021. The spread of the Delta variant is said to be one of the leading causes of the higher mortality rates in the UK.
Health Experts Warn of Rising Death Toll
Relaxing coronavirus restrictions could pave the way for new virus mutations which are resistant to vaccines, researchers have suggested. A new article warns against relaxing measures prematurely, and describes an “arms race” against Covid-19. Experts at the University of East Anglia and the Earlham Institute argue that rising cases could provide opportunities for the virus to evolve into even more transmissible variants.
It comes as official figures on Monday showed that the number of newly reported Covid-19 cases in the UK has dropped for the sixth consecutive day. People who turn down the Covid vaccine are “selfish” and put others’ lives at risk, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said. He warned that those declining a jab could see themselves barred from events requiring “a certain level of safety”. The government has already said it plans compulsory vaccinations for nightclubs in England from September.
Young People Reluctant to Get the Covid-19 Vaccine
So far, more than 70% of British adults have received both doses of the vaccine, but there are concerns that young people are not welcoming enough towards the vaccination programme. Officials are also worried that people will abandon safety measures due to a significant drop in the incidence rate in the UK over the past week, which has led scientists to worry about an end to the pandemic.
Hospitalisation Cases Rise as Restrictions are Lifted
More than 6,000 patients are said to have been hospitalised since Monday, a significant rise from 4,615 last week. The UK government lifted all pandemic restrictions on 19 July despite warnings from health officials. The UK has so far recorded more than 5.745 million cases and 129 thousand deaths due to Covid-19.
Increasing Hospitalisation of Young People with Covid-19
In recent days, the number of young people hospitalised in ICU wards with Covid-19 has been on the rise. Currently, 16- to 24-year-olds are six times more likely to develop coronavirus than 50- to 69-year-olds. Recent studies in intensive care units show that the age group of patients in these wards is getting younger by the day. Doctors stress that the majority of coronavirus cases these days are among young people and ask them not to delay getting the vaccine.
Young People Should Get the Covid-19 Vaccine As Soon As Possible
On 19 July, most Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK, and the use of masks and social distancing is no longer compulsory. But health experts have warned that the unvaccinated youth must take urgent steps to prevent getting the disease. The warning comes as scientists cautiously welcome a drop in rates for the sixth consecutive day. This is the first time that the number of people infected with the coronavirus in the UK is declining without quarantine. But the National Health Service (NHS) says a third of people aged 18 to 29 have not yet received a single dose of the vaccine.
While young people are generally less at risk of death from Covid-19, doctors say that as new strains of the virus spread, they are becoming increasingly infected. Reports indicate that the vast majority of people with coronavirus who require intensive care are unvaccinated, and some lose their lives. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that coronavirus in the UK is now mainly a disease among young adults, with incidence rates of nearly six times higher among 16- to 24-year-olds.
Many experts have called on the government to delay reducing restrictions so that more people can receive both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the UK has recorded more than 5.7 million cases and 129,000 deaths. The increasing prevalence of coronavirus and the number of deaths in the UK indicate that there is still a possibility that the UK will once again see a new wave of the disease. In these circumstances, lifting restrictions can lead to the conclusion that people no longer follow hygiene tips and avoid wearing masks and go to large gatherings.
Boris Johnson’s decision to lift restrictions comes at a time when the situation in the UK is still fragile and could escalate again with ill-considered actions. Experts always recommend that any decision to reopen during the Covid-19 outbreak should take into account all aspects of the situation, and that one wrong decision can endanger the lives of many people.
