UK alert level should now be four, say experts
THE UK’s four chief medical officers have agreed the Covid-19 alert level should move from five – its highest – down to four as the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed within 21 days “has receded”.
In a joint statement, the four chief medical officers, including Wales’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, and NHS England’s national medical director, Stephen Powis, said the numbers of patients in hospital was “consistently declining” but warned “we should be under no illusions” because deaths and infections are still high.
The statement said: “Following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and in the light of the most recent data, the four UK chief medical officers and NHS England national medical director agree that the UK alert level should move from level five to level four in all four nations.
“The health services across the four nations remain under significant pressure with a high number of patients in hospital, however, thanks to the efforts of the public we are now seeing numbers consistently declining, and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded.
“We should be under no illusions – transmission rates, hospital pressures and deaths are still very high. In time, the vaccines will have a major impact and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated when they receive the offer. However, for the time being it is really important that we all – vaccinated or not – remain vigilant and continue to follow the guidelines.
“We know how difficult the situation has been and remains to be for healthcare workers, we thank them for their immense effort, skill and professionalism throughout the pandemic.”
The alert level was raised to level five on January 4, the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the third national lockdown for England.