‘Challenging months ahead’ in Covid fight
BRITONS have been warned the coming months will be “challenging” as coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Downing Street said an increase in coronavirus cases had been expected over the winter and the Government would keep a “close watch” on the situation.
Epidemiologist and government adviser Professor Andrew Hayward said the situation was “concerning” and there was “huge potential for the NHS to come under a lot of pressure”.
Government data up to Sunday show more than 300,000 confirmed cases reported over the past seven days, a 15% increase on the previous week.
The 852 deaths reported from October 11-17 was 8.5% higher than the figure for the previous week.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics last Friday showed coronavirus infection levels in England are getting close to the peak seen at the height of the second wave, and are mostly being driven by rates among schoolchildren.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We obviously keep very close watch on the latest statistics. We always knew the coming months would be challenging. What we are seeing is case rates, hospitalisations and deaths still broadly in line with the modelling as set out a few months back now.
“The vaccination programme will continue to be our first line of defence, along with new treatments, testing and public health advice... it is thanks to our vaccination programme that we are able to substantially break the link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths.”
The spokesman said the success of the vaccines meant “we are able to be one of the most open economies in Europe, which is benefiting the public and indeed businesses as well”.
Prof Hayward, a member of the Sage scientific advisory panel, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “It’s concerning that we’ve got very high rates of infection and higher rates of hospitalisation and mortality than many of our European counterparts.”
He said waning immunity is “probably part of” the reason infections are currently high, adding there is “some evidence” protection against infection is beginning to wear off and “probably some evidence” protection against severe disease is waning to a lesser extent.
Prof Hayward added: “We shouldn’t be complacent because there is still huge potential for the NHS to come under a lot of pressure and for there to be a lot of unnecessary deaths.
“So we need to get the vaccination rates up and to be prepared potentially to think about other measures.”
Downing Street said “different countries are potentially at different stages of their vaccination programmes and have different measures in place so it’s difficult to compare and contrast”.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman added: “What’s important is we strike the right balance between protecting lives and livelihoods.”
The Government’s autumn and winter plan suggested that some measures including the mandatory use of vaccine passports and face coverings could be required in England if cases were putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
But Downing Street insisted “there is absolutely no plan to introduce Plan B currently”.