PM warns of rise in deaths as country unlocks

Restraint urged after pubs and shops become packed

BORIS JOHNSON has said “people have just got to understand” that hospitalisations and deaths from coronavirus will “inevitably” rise again as the country comes out of lockdown.

Figures released yesterday showed the number of registered deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales had fallen to the lowest level in six months, with the Easter break affecting numbers.

There were 400 deaths registered in the week ending April 2 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

This is the lowest number since the week ending October 2 and down 44 per cent on the previous seven days.

But the Prime Minister said people should “exercise restraint” as beer gardens were packed and shoppers flocked to high streets after the latest round of the Government’s coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England on Monday.

As vaccines began to be offered to those under 50 yesterday, Mr Johnson said that although the jabs had helped, lockdown restrictions had done “the bulk of the work” in reducing Covid-19 infections.

He said: “It’s great that we have managed to achieve the target of getting everyone in the one to nine (priority) groups vaccinated by the deadline, by the timetable – a little bit ahead actually, 32m people now have got their first dose, which is terrific. We are going now to the 45-49 group, they are being asked to come forward.”

About 1.3m vulnerable people are yet to take up the offer, according to new estimates, and one vaccination expert warned that it is “vitally important” for people at highest risk to come forward.

Mr Johnson added: “Of course the vaccination programme has helped, but the bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown.

“So, as we unlock, the result will inevitably be that we will see more infection, sadly we will see more hospitalisation and deaths.

“People have just got to understand that.”

There were a further 23 deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test in the UK yesterday, bringing the UK total to 127,123. Some four of those were in Yorkshire, bringing the region’s death toll to 10,880. There were 2,472 new cases.

Mr Johnson said there were no plans at present to change the road map out of lockdown. The next “waymarks” on England’s plan to ease restrictions are due on May 17 and June 21.

“But it is very, very important that, if we are to get there in the way that we all want, people continue to be cautious and they continue to exercise restraint and just do the basic things to stop the spread of the virus – washing your hands, giving people plenty of space, doing things in fresh air,” he added.