Coronavirus, Britain's medical authority: 'We are at a point of no return'. According to Professor Van-Tam, there will be more deaths in the coming weeks.
The UK has reached a “point of no return” in the coronavirus pandemic, similar to that of March, and in the coming weeks, there will be an increase in deaths as well as cases, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said, quoted by the BBC. Van-Tam said “the season is against us” and the country will face “headwinds” before winter.
The deputy chief medical officer urged people to help the NHS by limiting social interactions because “the virus thrives on human contact”. Van Tam noted that while the epidemic has “spread out” among young people in recent weeks, “there is now evidence that it is expanding into an older age group” in the most affected areas. The R0 index is currently between 1,2 and 1,5, he added. Yesterday in the UK 15.166 new cases were recorded in 24 hours, 1.302 more than Friday, and 81 deaths. “It is sad, but as night follows day, an increase in deaths will follow, in the coming weeks,” the increase in infections, Van-Tam said, warning that the country is in a different position to March, during the first wave, because now “we are entering the coldest and darkest months of winter. We are in the middle of a major pandemic and the season is against us. We are basically going to hit headwinds.” In this situation, he adds, the UK has “much better testing capacity” than it has in the past and “better treatments” available.
Article published on 11 October 2020 - 11:12
