LONDON – Britain’s National Health Service is gearing up for the worst weeks of the pandemic as a new, more contagious form of the coronavirus strikes the country and puts hospitals under more extreme stress than in the spring.
A combination of a more infectious version of the virus, less compliance with restrictions on social distance and changes in hospital procedures created a storm for the state health service, which tries to withstand a wave of Covid-19 infections.
“I think this is a very, very serious situation. It is rapidly deteriorating, ”said Dr. Daniele Bryden, a doctor and vice-chancellor of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine. “We know it will be a very difficult three weeks.”
The new variant – which scientists estimate to be between 50% and 70% more transmissible than older versions – combined with meetings over Christmas to bring new cases reported daily to record levels, government scientists say. New cases appear to be stabilizing at high levels, but it will be some time before any benefits reach the hospitals.
There are now more people in the hospital than at any stage of the pandemic last April, with 32,300 Covid-19 patients currently hospitalized, compared with about 21,700 in the spring.