Calls to ramp up virus restrictions
PRESSURE is growing for the expansion of the toughest coronavirus restrictions in the face of increasing strain on hospitals in England, where the number of patients has surpassed the April peak of the first wave.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to announce any changes to tier areas in a statement to the Commons today.
An adviser to the Government said national coronavirus restrictions were needed to prevent a “catastrophe” amid rising infections, and the head of an organisation representing health trusts said “as much of the country as possible” should go into the harshest Tier 4.
The debate over the reopening of schools after the Christmas break is also continuing, with scientists and school leaders suggesting a delay might be needed amid rising cases. The Government said it is “still planning for a staggered opening of schools” after Christmas, but is keeping the approach under constant review.
Professor Andrew Hayward, of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said he thought schools would return “maybe a little bit later” and reopening would mean “we’re going to have to have increased, strict restrictions in other areas of society to pay for that”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed plans for soldiers to offer remote support for testing in schools, but warned it was unlikely to be enough.
Prof Hayward, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London, said widespread Tier 4 restrictions – or even higher – were likely to be needed as the country moved towards “near-lockdown”. He said: “I think we are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic and we’re going to need decisive, early, national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February.”
Asked whether a national Tier 4 should be brought in, NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery told BBC Radio Five Live: “I think we need to see, yes, as much of the country as possible in Tier 4.”
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens warned that doctors and nurses were “back in the eye of the storm”. Figures show there were 20,426 patients in NHS hospitals in England at 8am on Monday, compared with 18,974 on April 12. Sir Simon said: “We are back in the eye of the storm with a second wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe and, indeed, this country.”
Sir Simon said there was a “chink of hope” in various vaccines, with the Oxford/ AstraZeneca jab expected to be approved imminently by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
One senior doctor said some trusts in London and the South East were considering the option of setting up tents outside hospitals to triage patients.
Emergency medicine consultant Simon Walsh said staff were working in “major incident mode” and called on the Government to set out a “coherent plan” for the coming weeks.