Over the past few days, the number of Covid-19 patients in the UK has risen sharply again, leading health experts to recommend that quarantine restrictions be re-established.
Warning by UK Health Secretary
The UK Health Secretary, referring to rising Covid-19 cases, warned about the daily infection of 100,000 people with the coronavirus in this country. Emphasising that the pandemic was not over yet, Sajid Javid said the effects of spiking cases are being seen once again at the start of autumn-winter, as health experts had previously predicted.
Prevalence of Newer Delta Variant
The Health Secretary announced the outbreak of a newer variant of Delta in this country, which may be a more infectious and serious threat never encountered before. Referring to the number of rising infections, he stressed the need to follow health guidelines and added that the government had not yet set a date to introduce its Plan B , which includes mandatory face coverings and working from home.
Accelerated Vaccinations
Sajid Javid expressed satisfaction with the vaccination process and announced a reduction in the gap between the number of people vaccinated and those infected with Covid-19. He added that the government is trying to complete the vaccination process with a third dose for the elderly and vulnerable as part of the government’s booster jab campaign. The British Health Secretary also announced the continuation of the vaccination process for 12- to 15-year-olds, which started at the beginning of the new school year. He called on all those who have not yet been vaccinated to join the vaccination programme and protect their lives and the lives of others.
Increase in Covid-19 Infections After Lifting Restrictions
Boris Johnson lifted all Covid-19 restrictions about three months ago. Ever since, there has been a rise in infections, with the UK now being the second country with the highest number of Covid-19 cases (50,000 daily) after the United States.
Requesting Medical Institutions to Reinstate Restrictions
The NHS Confederation has expressed concerns over the number of Covid-19 cases rising in the UK again and the growing number of hospital admissions, calling for the restoration of Covid-19 restrictions. The NHS chief executive, Matthew Taylor, warned that the health care system is on the brink of collapse and that the situation was deteriorating rapidly. He said in an interview that either Covid-19 restrictions should return or else the country would face a crisis in the winter. The British official suggested that the government implement its Plan B to deal with Covid-19.
The Need to Implement Plan B to Deal with Covid-19
As part of Plan B, the government envisages that if the pandemic gets out of control once again and the number of Covid-19 patients continues to rise, it will become mandatory to wear face masks, work from home and get a vaccine passport to enter public places. The British Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, had said that the government was closely monitoring the Covid-19 fluctuations. Meanwhile, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has issued a statement warning that the country has entered an ambiguous phase in terms of Covid-19. The statement said the vaccine’s resistance to new strains and how the reopening of schools and businesses would affect statistics was unclear.
Boris Johnson is Confused
A rise in Covid cases has worried UK government officials. PM Boris Johnson has also acknowledged that the situation is more challenging than last winter. He stressed that a rational approach to dealing with Covid-19, including the use of face masks in crowded places, social distancing, hand washing and telecommuting, should still be followed. He added that the government’s plan B will be implemented when it is necessary and effective in countering Covid-19.
The Time Has Come to Implement Plan B
Unlike the government, the NHS believes that now is the time to implement Plan B restrictions and that neglect in this area can have irreparable consequences. The number of people with Covid-19 in the country is increasing rapidly and the death toll has risen to its highest level in six months. However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says it is not time to implement Plan B yet. At this point, he said, the government does not intend to lose the gains it has made after easing Covid-19 restrictions on the economy.
Prevalence of New Variants in the UK
Spiking Covid-19 cases in the UK has raised concerns about the spread of the new strain. Reports indicate that the Delta Plus variant is 10-15% more infectious than the previous variant. Some health experts have suggested a “wait and see” policy for the virus to progress. They say there is no need to panic given the high number of public vaccinations.
The Need to Cancel the International Climate Summit
The high number of infections on the eve of the Glasgow International Climate Summit, which begins in less than two weeks with the participation of world leaders, is another concern. World health experts recently wrote to the UK government calling for the summit to be cancelled.
Significant Increase in Covid-19 Deaths
Covid-19 deaths have risen sharply in the UK, with scientists and experts calling on the government to tackle the rapid spread of the infection. They believe that Plan B should be introduced immediately given the Covid-19 cases which have reached 50,000 a day, as well as the continued rise in hospitalisations and deaths. They believe that the country has several difficult months ahead.
Statistics Show a Tragic Situation
In fact, the situation across the UK is moving in the wrong direction. The daily death rate per 100,000 people per week rose to 411 on Sunday, with an average of 122 deaths per day due to Covid-19. In Scotland, deaths are now 30% higher than they were between 2015 and 2019. Covid-19 patients occupy about 15% of beds in intensive care units in Britain. In Spain, which was severely affected by the pandemic, the rate of beds occupied by these patients is about 5%.
The Highest Rate of Covid-19 Since January
About one million Britons contracted the disease in the first week of October, the highest rate since January, according to the ONS. In the summer, the UK lifted almost all of its Covid-19 restrictions, citing high vaccination rates, followed by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Of course, experts and officials still recommended wearing masks in closed spaces and on public transport. In addition, the British were encouraged to keep a reasonable distance.
Non-Compliance with Health Protocols in the UK
Covid-19 cases rising in the UK have come at a time when many restaurants, museums and the tube have been working and running as if Covid-19 never existed, with no masking or social distancing observed in public places. In schools, where the use of masks did not exist at all, many classrooms were closed due to an increase in cases. Of course, the UK lags far behind other European countries in terms of vaccination for children and adolescents, with only 14% between the ages of 12 and 15 receiving their first dose, and 44% of those vaccinated in Scotland.
Rumors of a return to Covid restrictions in the UK have been rising since last month. The government has warned in a public retreat that it will reintroduce some of the restrictions it lifted three months ago if the number of Covid-19 patients in the UK rises again. The outbreak of the new wave of Covid-19 and increasing pressure on the country’s health centres has prompted the government to consider a solution.
