LONDON – Britain’s most sensible medical adviser said the country had turned COVID-19 infection rates “very badly,” with figures suggesting the disease will expand exponentially unless action is taken.
Medical director Chris Whitty told the public Monday that rates were heading in the “wrong direction” while the government was ready to announce new measures for the pandemic.
“We’ve done it in a very bad way, we’ve literally turn a corner,” after weeks of emerging infection rates.
Whitty said if nothing is done, the new infections will accumulate to 49,000 per day until mid-October. Hospitalizations also doubled in seven to 8 days, resulting in more deaths.
There is also no indication that the virus has decreased in severity, he said. “We see no evidence that this is true. “
Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with ministers over the weekend to discuss how the government will respond to the recent buildup of cases, which took infection rates to varying last noticed in May. Later this week, the government is expected to announce a series of short-term restrictions that will act as a “decisive factor” to curb the spread of the disease.
The government hopes to prevent this number from peaking in early April, when more than 5,000 cases were reported per day.
While mortality rates have remained low so far, public fitness officials warn that deaths are likely to increase in the coming weeks.
The UK reported seven days of 21 deaths per day last week, up from 942 on 10 April.
Last week, the government imposed stricter restrictions on communities in north-east England, where the infection rate began to rise. Bars and restaurants in those spaces will now have to close between 10 p. m. at 5 a. m. and others are prohibited from socializing with others from other households.
The increase in infection rates comes at a time when legislators in all policy areas are critical of the government’s screening program. While government ministers are promoting the record number of tests, there are reports from others who have had to travel many miles for tests and tests canceled because labs take too long to process them.
An effective screening program is considered essential for the pandemic because it allows the government to track infections and tell others when they want to isolate themselves.
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