Lockdown
Scientists have issued a warning that if Covid restrictions are not intensified, every hospital bed in England could be full by December 17, aggravated by reduced capacity due to social distancing measures.
The government has been alerted to the possibility of hospitals in England running out of beds by Christmas, as capacity is already strained in areas like Liverpool and Greater Manchester, which are under Tier 3 lockdown.
A senior Conservative party member emphasized the Prime Minister’s challenging position, as he needs to protect both the economy and the NHS. Overwhelming hospitals could have disastrous consequences, particularly during the Christmas period, which might harm the Prime Minister’s political and personal reputation.
Hospital admissions have surged to the highest level since April, with 1,404 people admitted in a single day, accompanied by 280 deaths and 23,065 new infections recorded. The number of Covid-19 patients in NHS hospitals has risen to 10,308, up from 5,032 two weeks ago.
Scientists have declared the second wave of Covid to be at a “critical stage,” with infections doubling approximately every nine days. They estimate nearly 100,000 new infections daily in England, indicating that the pandemic continues to grow exponentially.
Professor Steven Riley from Imperial College London emphasized the need for change before Christmas due to the rapid rate of growth in infections.
