By Ben Kerrigan-
British prime minister Boris Johnson, has extended the easing of the lockdown from June 21 to July 19 due to the concerns over the Indian variant.
The extension follows warnings from scientists that more than 40,000 people could die this summer as the Delta variant sweeps through the UK, even after the decision to postpone the lifting of lockdown.
A paper submitted to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) said a summer wave of infections, hospitalisations and deaths is “likely” whether or not restrictions are lifted because of the highly virulent nature of the variant – but the potential peak death rate could be reduced from 700 to 500 a day by delaying Step 4 of Mr Johnson’s roadmap from the planned date of 21 June.ding on 19 July.
Cabinet minister, Michael Gove, has said the government is “as confident as confident can be” about 19 July being the date for the end of England’s coronavirus restrictions.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “The data shows that we should be in a position to have vaccinated so many people by that date in July that we will be able to lift restrictions.
“Now, you know, none of us can predict the future with 100 per cent certainty – there could be something bizarre and unprecedented that occurs.
The news comes as Ireland intensified the stringency of its rules to visitors coming from the Uk.
Under current rules, people arriving in Ireland from Britain must provide a negative PCR test result, and then have to self-isolate at home, but can leave isolation after five days with a second negative PCR test.
The new, tougher rules will apply to partially vaccinated people – and not British travellers who are fully vaccinated.
Irish transport minister Eamon Ryan said the “cautious” move was to hold back the spread of the Delta variant, the dominant coronavirus variant in Britain, until the Irish vaccination programme further rolls out.
“The more we can delay its spread,” he told RTE Radio. “The better protection we’ll have.”
The Irish government has expressed serious concerns that the strain, which is at least 60% more transmissible than the original Alpha variant, could take hold and jeopardise plans for a wider reopening of society on 5 July.
The new plan for arrivals from Britain will be considered by the Irish cabinet at its usual Tuesday meeting, and official confirmation is expected this afternoon.
Hospital Beds Taken Up By Coronavirus Patients
NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens today revealed that just 1% of hospital beds are taken up by coronavirus patients.
He adds that currently far more of them (70%) are people under 65 than in January (40%).
“At the moment about 1% of hospital beds in England are occupied by patients with a COVID diagnosis and the age distribution has really flipped as a result of vaccination.
“Back in January, it was 60/40 – 60% of beds occupied by people over 65, 40% (occupied by people) under 65.
“Now it’s flipped to 30/70, so it’s about 30% occupied by people aged 65 and over 70% by younger people whose prospects are much greater.”
He added that new drugs to treat COVID are being considered by the NHS and could be available in “the next several months”.
“We expect that we will begin to see further therapies that will actually treat coronavirus and prevent severe illness and death,” he said.
“Today I’m asking the health service to gear up for what are likely to be a new category of such treatments – so-called neutralising monoclonal antibodies – which are potentially going to become available to us within the next several months.”
Mr Johnson said he was “confident” no further delay would be necessary but was unable to rule that out, warning of the possibility that an unforeseen and “far more dangerous” variant could emerge.
Scientists have warned more than 40,000 people could die this summer as the Delta variant sweeps through the UK, even after the decision to postpone the lifting of lockdown.
A paper submitted to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) said a summer wave of infections, hospitalisations and deaths is “likely” whether or not restrictions are lifted because of the highly virulent nature of the variant – but the potential peak death rate could be reduced from 700 to 500 a day by delaying Step 4 of Mr Johnson’s roadmap from the planned date of 21 Jun
Mr Johnson said he was “confident” no further delay would be necessary but was unable to rule that out, warning of the possibility that an unforeseen and “far more dangerous” variant could emerge.
Scientists have warned more than 40,000 people could die this summer as the Delta variant sweeps through the UK, even after the decision to postpone the lifting of lockdown.
A paper submitted to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) said a summer wave of infections, hospitalisations and deaths is “likely” whether or not restrictions are lifted because of the highly virulent nature of the variant – but the potential peak death rate could be reduced from 700 to 500 a day by delaying Step 4 of Mr Johnson’s roadmap from the planned date of 21 Jun
Mr Johnson said he was “confident” no further delay would be necessary but was unable to rule that out, warning of the possibility that an unforeseen and “far more dangerous” variant could emerge.
Scientists have warned more than 40,000 people could die this summer as the Delta variant sweeps through the UK, even after the decision to postpone the lifting of lockdown.
A paper submitted to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) said a summer wave of infections, hospitalisations and deaths is “likely” whether or not restrictions are lifted because of the highly virulent nature of the variant – but the potential peak death rate could be reduced from 700 to 500 a day by delaying Step 4 of Mr Johnson’s roadmap from the planned date of 21 Jun