World News – AU – UK enters third national lockdown as coronavirus spiral out of control

London: Britain’s jam-packed hospitals are three weeks away from being overwhelmed as a mutant strain of coronavirus sets off record spikes in cases and triggers a third national lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson resisted allegations that the government was not acting quickly or decisively enough to tackle Europe’s deadly second wave. On Monday evening the UK said « a crucial moment is ahead » and the weeks ahead will be « the toughest yet ». in the pandemic.

« Our hospitals have been under more pressure from COVID since the pandemic began than ever before, » he said.

« In England alone, the number of COVID patients in hospitals has fallen by almost a third to almost 27 in the past week. 000, and that number is 40 percent higher than the first high in April. « 

He said England would return to its toughest lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic last March. People are only legally allowed to leave their homes to buy essentials, get medical treatment, escape domestic violence, or go to work if absolutely necessary.

Schools are also being closed, although ministers repeatedly argue that the societal cost of denial of personal education is not worth the benefits of closing.

Great Britain has 59 on Monday. 000 new cases announced – for the seventh straight day, more than 50. 000 cases registered.

New figures show that on Jan.. December more than 80. 000 people have tested positive as a new variant is rising across the UK.

Scientists believe that the mutated strain named VUI – 202012/01 is between 50 and 70 percent more transmissible. There is some early evidence that the new variant spreads more easily in children than existing strains.

Daily coronavirus hospital admissions hit 3,145 on Monday – a number that dwarfed the worst day of the first wave.

As many people are now on ventilators in south east England as there were at the height of the first wave. The total number of hospital admissions in this region is also almost twice as high as last year.

Hours before Johnson’s announcement, chief medical officers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland issued a statement warning that many parts of the healthcare system were « already under immense pressure ». .

« We are not confident that the NHS can handle another sustained surge in cases and without further action there is a significant risk that the NHS will become overwhelmed in several areas over the next 21 days, » they said.

The COVID warning level, separate from the UK tiered restriction regime, has been raised to five, indicating that the healthcare system is on the verge of flooding.

The existing number of cases does not yet include an expected increase in the household mix over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon also ordered a lockdown on Monday and warned Scotland about four weeks behind the enormous infection rates in London.

« It is no exaggeration to say that I am more concerned about the situation we are facing now than I have been since March, » said Sturgeon.

Other countries hit by Europe’s second wave like France, Italy and Spain have managed to reverse their skyrocketing infection rates, but the numbers in the UK have continued to rise rapidly.

London and other parts of England have been tightly restricted for almost two weeks, but infections are showing no signs of slowing.

Brian Pinker, 82, receives the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Sam Foster at Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Photo credit: Getty

Some scientists fear that the outbreak is now so widespread and the new strain so difficult to control that the introduction of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines will be the only way to combat the second wave.

Johnson suggested the new lockdown could last at least until the end of February. At this point, the top four priority groups for vaccination – all nursing home residents and their caregivers, all frontline health and social workers, anyone over the age of 70, and anyone classified as clinically vulnerable – should have received the first of two doses.

« The coming weeks are going to be the most difficult, but I really believe we are entering the final phase of the struggle because with every push that goes into our arms we are tipping the balance against COVID and in favor of the British people,  » he said.

« But now, I’m afraid you need to stay home and protect the NHS and save lives. « 

Earlier, Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said the UK had reached a « critical moment » despite the new vaccines.

« We are on the verge of being overwhelmed by this disease. I think it gives us a bit of hope, but we have some difficult weeks ahead of us. « 

The UK gave the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine to 1 million people and started delivering the Oxford-AstraZeneca stab on Monday.

Brian Pinker, an 82-year-old dialysis patient, was the first to receive the approved push.

Parliament was called back from its New Year break to vote on the measures on Wednesday.

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Boris Johnson, Lockdown, United Kingdom