Boris Johnson
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Boris Johnson has been preparing the ground for the exclusion of rules for a few more months, as deaths in the British coronavirus have reached the highest daily total since April.
The prime minister said in parliament before a vote on the approval of the measures that the restrictions on pandemics would be lifted only gradually. While schools will be the priority for the reopening, the goal of returning to face-to-face teaching from Feb. 22 is far from certain, he warned.
“As was the case last spring, the rise of the cocoon will not be a big bang, but a gradual unpacking,” Johnson said. The House of Commons voted 524 to 16 on Wednesday night in support of the new restrictions.
The government has tried to temper expectations for a speedy end to the pandemic curbs – despite a mass vaccination program – while infections and hospitalizations continue to skyrocket and pressure builds up on the struggling national health service. Hospitals in London are less than two weeks away from being overwhelmed by the virus, even at best, the Health Service Journal reported, referring to an NHS England presentation.
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
The UK reported 1,041 new coronavirus deaths within 28 days of the positive test on Wednesday, the highest daily increase since April. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were now 30,074 patients with the virus in UK hospitals.
The rising caseload has forced authorities to set up the UK’s third nationwide exclusion this week, close schools and put the economy on track for a potentially devastating double recession.
Exams deleted
While millions of children are being taught online at home until at least mid-February, ministers have confirmed that the A-level and GCSE exams scheduled for May and June will also be canceled due to the pandemic this year. Instead, students are graded by their teachers.
School exam offered in England and replaced with teacher marks
The government aims to slow down the spread of the virus as much as possible so that hospitals are not overwhelmed, and they have to buy time for medics to vaccinate nearly 14 million of the most vulnerable people and caregivers by 15 February. About 1.3 million have already received a dose.
“After last year’s marathon, we are indeed now in a sprint, a race to vaccinate defenseless people faster than the virus can reach them,” Johnson said.
Hancock faced questions from his own Conservative colleagues in parliament about the pace of vaccination and how quickly the closure rules would be lifted. He agreed that the UK urgently needed to increase its supply of approved vaccines, and the manufacturers said Pfizer en AstraZeneca works as hard as possible to deliver.
Hancock has promised to remove ‘unnecessary red tape’ for those who are willing to give vaccinations and said he wants to see pharmacists and former doctors come. According to the government, there are nearly 1,000 vaccination sites across the country.
UK reports 1,041 new virus deaths, most since April
Johnson faces a looming clash with his own party in February when the national exclusion is envisaged. Mark Harper, a former cabinet minister, said there should be no reason to continue with restrictions once the most vulnerable people have been vaccinated.
Hancock pointed out that the government must see the “impact” of the vaccinations on the pandemic, and break the link between cases and deaths before the rules can be eased.
– With the help of Charles Capel and Joe Mayes