Young blamed for rise in virus cases
AFFLUENT young people have helped propel the rise in coronavirus cases, the Health Secretary has suggested.
Matt Hancock implored young people to stick to social-distancing measures as he said that under-25s, particularly those aged 17-21, accounted for a large number of positive cases.
He said “nobody wants to see a second wave” in the UK and that a recent surge in cases was “concerning”.
There were a further 2,948 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK as of 9am yesterday, following the 2,988 reported on Sunday which was the largest daily figure since May.
Meanwhile, the Health Secretary suggested that mass testing could see people given a 24-hour Covid-free “pass” to enable them to get back into theatres and sporting events where they may need to be in close contact.
He also said that should the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine be successful, it could be rolled out by the end of this year in a “best case scenario” – but the beginning of next year was “most likely”.
Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Hancock said younger people could still have serious illness and could pass on disease to more vulnerable people – including their grandparents.
“The rise in the number of cases we have seen in the last few days is concerning,” he said. “It is concerning because we have seen a rise in cases in France, in Spain, in some other countries across Europe – nobody wants to see a second wave here.
“It just reinforces the point that people must follow the social distancing rules, they are so important.
“The rise in the number of cases we have seen over the last few days is largely among younger people – under 25s, especially between 17 and 21 – and the message to all your younger listeners is that even though you are at lower risk of dying from Covid if you’re under 25, you can still have really serious symptoms and consequences.”
Mr Hancock set out more detail for mass testing plans, which could give someone a “pass” to know they are not infectious for at least 24 hours.
When asked about people getting back into theatres to go to pantomimes, Mr Hancock added: “That is the hope that we hold out for the nation, that we can get things going even if there isn’t a vaccine, that we can use mass testing so people can check whether they have the virus today, if they don’t then (they can) go and do things, even if it means being in close confinement.
“We need to use the next design of tests which don’t require you to send the swab off to the lab and get the result back.
“There’s a new technology that we’re backing to get a test where you can have the turn around essentially on the spot and so you can imagine being able to go to something like the theatre, or a sports event, or to work, and you have the test, you get the result back and then they can go into the theatre.”