Covid: Stats it in April
Daily figures
‘unpublished from Easter’
PUBLICATION of Covid daily death tolls will be stopped by Easter as part of plans to “live with” the virus, it was claimed yesterday.
Senior Whitehall sources are reported as saying Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also planning to axe daily publication of infections and hospital admissions.
News of the plan comes on the day the UK recorded a further 534 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, the highest daily toll since February 23 last year.
A further 88,085 positive cases were also reported, while 15,000 people are currently in hospital with Covid.
The Government source reportedly said: “Ending the daily Covid death toll is part of the PM’s strategy of living with Covid.
“It is hoped taking the focus away from the Covid figures will help people move on with their lives.” The
figures may go out weekly, it is thought.
The Department of Health and Health Security Agency did not comment.
But Prof Paul Hunter, of the University of East Anglia, said ceasing publication of figures in April may be “reasonable”.
He said a decision should be taken nearer the time and added: “At that point, we should also consider whether the large-scale testing of asymptomatic individuals is still worthwhile.”
Mr Johnson has already revealed plans to scrap Covid laws by March 24, including self-isolation requirements.
Mortality rates from Covid-19 are up to 30 times lower than in the peak of the second wave, due to some natural immunity, vaccination, the Omicron variant being milder and more effective treatments.