Hancock: We’ve got it under control
LOW rates of coronavirus infection show the disease is being brought under control, Matt Hancock declared yesterday.
The Health Secretary said the number of deaths from all causes is currently below average for the time of year
The 352 new Covid 19 infections recorded on Monday were the lowest since lockdown began and a significant fall on the 5,000-a-day at the peak of the crisis, he told MPs.
Mr Hancock added: “209 patients are currently in mechanical ventilator beds, down from 3,300 at the peak.
The latest number of deaths recorded in all settings in the UK was 16.
“New figures show that for the last two weeks the number of people who have died from all causes has been lower than the normal average for this time of year.”
Infection rates in Leicester, which was hit by a spike in the virus, are also falling after it was ordered to follow tougher restrictions than the rest of the country.
He added: “We took difficult but vital decisions about Leicester.
“Since then I am pleased to say that, together, we have brought down the seven-day infection rate from 135 to 117 cases per 100,000 people.”
New cases in the city have dropped to a level last seen nearly a month ago but it will be kept in lockdown until at least a week on Saturday.
The announcement came as a row flared-up over suggestions by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that “too many” care homes did not properly follow procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Care leaders called Mr Johnson’s comments “clumsy and cowardly” and a “real slap in the face” for workers.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said the pandemic had been “catastrophic” for older people.
She said: “These most vulnerable people have been at the biggest risk to the virus and should have been better protected on all levels.
“To do this the Government needs to refinance and reform social care so that older people are safe and cared for.”
Mr Hancock insisted Mr Johnson had been talking about the lack of information about the virus at the start of the pandemic rather than the actions of care staff.
He said: “Throughout this crisis, care homes have done amazing work and the Prime
Minister was explaining that, because asymptomatic transmission was not known about, the correct procedures were therefore not known.
“We’ve been constantly learning about this virus and improving procedures all the way through, and I pay tribute to the care homes in this country who have done so much to care for the most vulnerable throughout the crisis.”
The Health Secretary said the need to reform social care was “no less urgent” now than before the pandemic.
But he said the crisis meant the Government had learned “more about the nature of the reforms needed”.
Mr Hancock also dismissed calls for 1.4 million NHS hospital staff to be given weekly Covid-19 testing.
He said: “We’ve got to make sure these decisions are clinically led but of course I keep it under review.”
More than 55,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been recorded in the UK.