Doctors criticise the Government as Covid death toll tops 50,000
IT IS “vital that lessons are learnt” from the pandemic, a leading health organisation has said, as the UK coronavirus death toll exceeded 50,000.
Doctors’ union the British Medical Association ( BMA) said the figures were a “terrible indictment” of the Government’s lack of preparation and organisation with regard to handling the virus.
As of yesterday a further 595 people are reported to have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid- 19, bringing the total in the UK to 50,365.
It is the first time the total has passed 50,000 and the second day in a row where the daily number of reported deaths has been the highest since May 12.
In Yorkshire, a further 61 Covid19 deaths were reported at the region’s hospitals.
Responding to the news, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, said: “This is a point that should never have been reached.
“In March, Professor Steve Powis said that if the public adhered to the nationwide lockdown the total toll could be kept below 20,000. Today’s figure is a terrible indictment of poor preparation, poor organisation by the Government, insufficient infection control measures, coupled with late and often confusing messaging for the public.”
In the Commons yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson said every death from the disease was a tragedy and that while the prospects of a vaccine and mass testing offered hope, it was essential people continued to observe social- distancing rules.
“We have two boxing gloves to pummel the disease in the weeks and months that follow,” he said.
“But I have got to stress that we are not out of the woods yet. It does require everybody to follow the guidance.” He said everyone eligible should “definitely” get a coronavirus vaccine as the NHS prepared to start a vaccination programme from December.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths when Covid- 19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been more than 65,000 deaths involving coronavirus in the UK.
These figures are based on deaths where coronavirus is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate while the Government’s data counts only those people who died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid- 19.
The Government added, as of 9am yesterday, there had been a further 22,950 lab- confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 1,256,725.
BORIS JOHNSON has pledged to have the coronavirus vaccine as England’s deputy chief medical officer said he would be happy to work evenings and weekends to vaccinate people himself.
Number 10 said the Prime Minister would be willing to have the jab after Professor Jonathan VanTam said he had told his own mother to get ready to receive the vaccine.
It came as official Government figures showed the coronavirus death toll had passed 50,000 in the UK.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “Any vaccines which are determined for use will undergo a vigorous series of safety checks, they will be absolutely safe for the public to use.
“And the Prime Minister would therefore, of course, be very happy to take the vaccine himself.”
Earlier, Prof Van- Tam told a Downing Street press conference that Britain is poised for the
“most important vaccination programme we’ve done for decades”.
The 56- year- old said he has a health condition that puts him at “medium to high” risk from Covid19 but he will wait his turn to be vaccinated, with priority given to the elderly.
Asked whether high- profile Government figures such as himself or the Prime Minister should have a vaccine first to prove to the public it is safe, Prof Van- Tam said he would be “at the front of the queue” if he was allowed.
“If I could, rightly and morally, be at the very front of the queue, then I would do so because I absolutely trust the judgment of the MHRA ( Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) on safety and efficacy,” he said.
“But that clearly isn’t right, we have to target the most highest risk individuals in society and that is how it should be in terms of our system.
“If I could be at the front of the queue, then I would be.
“I think the ‘ mum test’ is very important here.
“My mum is 78, she will be 79 shortly, and I have already said to her, ‘ Mum, make sure when you are called you are ready, be ready to take this up, this is really important for you because of your age’.”
The professor said he is willing to help vaccination efforts personally in a bid to ensure people receive a jab as quickly as possible.
“This is one of the most important, if not the most important, vaccination programme we’ve done for decades,” he said.
“And from that perspective, I don’t mind telling you, I’ve had the conversation at home. If I can help with this in some evenings and weekends, doing some extra vaccination sessions myself, then I’m going to.
“That’s a given if I can get on the list and be useful.”
Prof Van- Tam was unable to say whether lives would be back to normal by Easter thanks to vaccines, adding that it is not yet clear if they prevent onward transmission of the virus or just stop individuals falling ill.
But he said: “I think I can tell you that I’m very hopeful that, over time, vaccines will make a very important difference to how we have to live with Covid- 19 in the long run.”
Offering reassurance on the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine, of which the Government has ordered 40 million doses, Prof VanTam said he is confident the NHS can “move at pace to keep up with the volumes” supplied.
We have to target the most highest risk individuals in society. Professor Jonathan Van- Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer.