Boris Johnson
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Boris Johnson set the stage for the blocking rules to last for several months, as deaths from coronavirus in the UK reached the highest daily total since April.
Speaking in Parliament before a vote to approve the measures, the prime minister said that pandemic restrictions will be lifted only gradually. Although schools are the priority for the reopening, the goal of returning to face-to-face education from February 22 is far from certain, he warned.
“As was the case last spring, our exit from the blocking cocoon will not be a big bang, but a gradual unwrap,” said Johnson. The House of Commons voted 524 to 16 in support of the new restrictions on Wednesday night.
The government tried to moderate expectations of a swift end to pandemic reduction – despite a mass vaccination program – as infections and hospitalizations continued to increase and increased pressure on the struggling National Health Service. Hospitals in London are less than two weeks from being overwhelmed by the virus, even in the best scenario, the Health Service Journal reported, citing a presentation by the NHS England.
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
The UK reported 1,041 new deaths from coronavirus in 28 days after a positive test on Wednesday, the biggest daily increase since April. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there are now 30,074 patients with the virus in UK hospitals.
The growing number of cases has forced authorities to impose the UK’s third national blockade this week, closing schools and putting the economy on the road to a potentially devastating double-dip recession.
Exams deleted
While millions of children are being taught online at home until at least mid-February, ministers confirmed that the A and GCSE exams scheduled for May and June will also be canceled this year due to the pandemic. Instead, students will be evaluated by their teachers.
School exams deleted and replaced by teacher notes in England
The government plans to delay the spread of the virus as much as possible so that hospitals are not overwhelmed, saving doctors time to vaccinate nearly 14 million of the most vulnerable people and caregivers by February 15. About 1.3 million have already received the dose.
“After last year’s marathon, we are in fact in a race, a race to vaccinate the vulnerable faster than the virus can reach them,” said Johnson.
Hancock faced questions from his own conservative colleagues in Parliament about the pace of vaccine implantation and how quickly the blocking rules will be lifted. He agreed that the UK urgently needs to increase its supply of approved vaccines and said that manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca is working hard to deliver.
Hancock promised to remove “unnecessary bureaucracy” for those who volunteer to give vaccines and said he wants to see pharmacists and former doctors come forward. There are almost 1,000 vaccination sites ready across the country, according to the government.
UK reports 1,041 new virus deaths, most since April
Johnson faces an impending confrontation with his own party in February, when the national blockade is planned to end. Mark Harper, a former cabinet minister, said there should be no reason to continue the restrictions, since the most vulnerable people have been vaccinated.
Hancock called for caution, saying the government needs to see the “impact” of vaccinations on the pandemic and “break the link” between cases and deaths before the rules can be relaxed.
– With the help of Charles Capel and Joe Mayes