Boris set to renew Covid restrictions
BORIS Johnson is expected to announce new curbs on social gatherings today after a stark warning from the UK’s scientific advisers that 200 people a day could be dying from coronavirus by mid-November.
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty staged a press conference without politicians yesterday to spell out the chilling impact of rising numbers of coronavirus cases.
Their warnings came as students in the Westcountry were accused of ignoring the recently introduced ‘rule of six’ and gathering in large groups now that term has re-started.
At the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus on Saturday pictures emerged of hundreds of students socialising outside a student accommodation block. On the same night, an officially socially distanced outdoor cinema event was held on campus, which again saw massive groups congregating close together.
A University of Exeter spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, some of our students did not socially distance as required at an outdoor cinema event on Saturday night and, although the Sunday outdoor cinema night event worked well after we made some changes, we have decided to cancel this evening’s (Monday’s) film showing.” There were warnings from the scientists advising government that Covid-19 cases are now rising across the country, although Devon and Cornwall remain among the least affected areas.
There are fears, however, that as the number of cases doubles every seven days vulnerable people will be affected and fall ill.
THE UK could see 200 or more deaths per day by mid-November if the current rate of infection is not halted, the Government’s chief scientific adviser has warned, as ministers consider further restrictions on households socialising.
Sir Patrick Vallance said the “vast majority of the population remain susceptible” to catching coronavirus and the current situation required swift action to bring the case numbers down.
He added that if current infection rates continue, the UK could see around 50,000 cases a day by the middle of October.
It comes as ministers make final decisions on what national measures are needed to tackle rising cases, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock strongly hinting that separate households could be prevented from mixing.
In the first televised address alongside England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty that was not attended by politicians, Sir Patrick said there was “no doubt” the UK was seeing increasing cases of Covid-19 among all age groups.
He said it was “not a prediction”, but the current doubling of cases every seven days could lead to a dramatic rise in hospitalisations and deaths.
In mid-September, around 3,000 new cases were recorded every day in the UK, he said.