LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned on Friday a brand new COVID-19 lockdown just isn’t on the playing cards, as advisers warned that performing early with lighter measures to chop rising case numbers would cut back the necessity for harder restrictions later.
Johnson’s authorities has mentioned there is no such thing as a want but to introduce a “Plan B” involving masks mandates, work-from-home orders and vaccine passports, although such measures may very well be launched if extra individuals don’t come ahead for COVID-19 vaccines and booster photographs. read more
Johnson scrapped England’s COVID restrictions in the summertime, and he mentioned that, whereas case numbers have been rising, the development was in keeping with what was anticipated.
He mentioned earlier that the widespread deployment of vaccines this 12 months signifies that the hyperlink between circumstances and deaths has been disrupted, in distinction with earlier phases of the pandemic.
Requested on Friday about the potential of one other lockdown over winter, the Conservative prime minister mentioned: “I’ve received to let you know in the intervening time that we see completely nothing to point that that’s on the playing cards in any respect.”
Whereas Johnson has scrapped the authorized requirement to put on masks, he mentioned they need to nonetheless be worn in confined areas, particularly when assembly strangers.
COVID-19 infections in Britain are up 17.9% during the last seven days, with 52,009 reported on Thursday, and the copy “R” quantity is estimated between 1.0 and 1.2. Any determine above one suggests an exponential progress in circumstances.
“Within the occasion of accelerating case charges, earlier intervention would cut back the necessity for extra stringent, disruptive, and longer-lasting measures,” the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) mentioned in minutes from a Oct. 14 assembly, printed on Friday.
“SAGE advises that coverage work on the potential reintroduction of measures must be undertaken now in order that it may be prepared for speedy deployment if required.”
SAGE added that amongst Plan B measures, reintroduction of work-from-home steerage would have the most important influence to chop transmission, and warned that “presenteeism” would possibly turn out to be an rising purpose for contagion within the office.
An NHS COVID-19 vaccination well being marketing campaign commercial is displayed close to a housing block, amidst the unfold of the coronavirus illness (COVID-19), in London, Britain, October 21, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) on Friday discovered that COVID-19 prevalence had risen once more. One of many areas with highest prevalence was southwest England, which was impacted by false detrimental check outcomes from a lab that was suspended final week. read more
The ONS mentioned COVID prevalence was at its highest stage since January, when England had simply entered a 3rd nationwide lockdown, though deaths are a lot decrease. read more
The present rise in circumstances has been fuelled by excessive ranges of infections in secondary faculties, the place 7.8% of kids have been contaminated within the newest week, in line with ONS statistics.
Although younger individuals are much less prone to fall significantly in poor health, ONS figures present the rise in circumstances there’s now feeding by into older age teams.
Johnson has mentioned that the federal government will depend on vaccines slightly than lockdowns to navigate a troublesome winter, and SAGE mentioned that issues have been unlikely to be as dangerous as final winter.
“Situations modelled for the approaching winter and into 2022 recommend COVID-19 hospital admissions above the extent seen in January 2021 are more and more unlikely, however there are uncertainties round behaviour change and waning immunity,” the minutes mentioned.
The UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) mentioned it was investigating a Delta subvariant of the coronavirus known as AY.4.2 because it was presumably extra transmissible than Delta, although there was no proof that it precipitated extra extreme illness or rendered vaccines ineffective. read more
“It isn’t sudden that new variants will proceed to come up because the pandemic goes on, significantly whereas the case fee stays excessive,” UKHSA chief government Jenny Harries mentioned.
“Nevertheless, it ought to function goal proof that this pandemic just isn’t over.”
Reporting by Alistair Smout and James Davey with extra reporting by Paul Sandle and William James; modifying by Mark Heinrich
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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