WE’RE WINNING BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19
As death toll drops to lowest level since lockdown, Hancock gives hope
BRITAIN is winning the battle against Covid-19, Matt Hancock declared as he urged people with symptoms to have a test.
The Health Secretary announced virus deaths fell to their lowest level since lockdown began and new cases hit a five-week low.
Meanwhile, the testing tsar said the crucial NHS Test and Trace system is identifying a high number of contacts and “operating pretty much as we had hoped”.
Yesterday’s Downing Street briefing revealed there were 111 reported deaths, taking the UK
toll to 39,045. Meanwhile, a further 1,570 people tested positive, taking the total number of confirmed cases to more than 276,000.
Mr Hancock said: “The data shows that we are winning the battle against the coronavirus.”
The number of people admitted to hospital with it fell to 7,541, down from 8,830 a week ago.
Just over 600 were on mechanical ventilators – the lowest number since late March. Half of England’s NHS trusts had reported no deaths in the previous 48 hours.
Mr Hancock said: “We’re getting this virus under control and this is why we can make the cautious, small, positive steps that we’ve been able to make today.
“We can see from these charts the pattern right across the board, which is that on the substance we’re making significant progress. But there is still more to be done.” The Health Secretary also urged people to get checked as soon as they develop symptoms.
The daily testing capacity is now 206,444 but only 128,437 were carried out in the previous 24 hours.
Mr Hancock said: “If there’s one message that we have today, it’s that it is incredibly important for anybody who has symptoms of coronavirus – a cough or a fever or a change in your sense of taste or smell – that you get a test. It’s by getting those tests that we’re able to identify those who’ve got the virus, ensuring you get the best possible treatment and ensuring that we can then trace the virus and control it.”
Mr Hancock said the NHS Test and Trace system was up and running and had found the “vast majority” of new infections and their contacts.
Testing chief Prof John Newton said: “We are very pleased with the level of completeness. It’s operating pretty much as we had hoped.” He said the
numbers of contacts were less than forecast but were quite similar to trials on the Isle of Wight. Prof Newton explained: “In lockdown people do not have that many close contacts outside their household.”
Mr Hancock thanked volunteers, charities, healthcare workers and their families for their support.
But he warned the country must not throw away the great strides it has achieved. He said: “We must all remember that in the war against this virus we are all on the same side. We’ve come so far together, we can take these steps together, but do not step too far. The disease is not done yet. We must not throw away the progress made.”
He urged: “Please take your responsibilities seriously. If you have symptoms you must get a test and if the NHS asks you to isolate you must do so.”