Tuesday’s COVID numbers … for the U.K. give obvious cause for The Guardian’s Andrew concern. There were 223 deaths reported, up from 181 a week earlier and the highest number since March. New cases remain persistently high on 43,738. Hospitalizations are approaching 1,000 admissions per day. The government has always kept the number of coronavirus deaths per day it was willing to stomach a closely guarded and macabre secret. A source told Playbook yesterday that 250 per day had previously been the top end of what was considered acceptable earlier this year.
Hunt for spread October The Guardian’s Andrew
So what’s causing the surge? It appears it’s being driven in part by transmission among children, although there are also mounting fears that the protection offered by two vaccine doses is wearing off, that the rollout of the third booster jab is not telegram database going fast enough, and that the full release of all restrictions including mask wearing has seen Britons’ vigilance wane. Anecdotally, it does also seem cases are once again on the rise even among the double jabbed. A warm welcome to the thousands of visitors heading to Glasgow for COP in 11 days.
Stark warning:
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, argued last night that ministers needed to change approach. We are right on the edge — and it is the middle of October. It would require an incredible amount of luck for us not to find ourselves in the midst of a profound crisis over the next three months. The government ought to not just announce that we’re moving to plan B, but it should be plan B plus. Heather Stewart and Ian Semple had his comments first. As the i’s Hugo Gye points out, it is not immediately clear whether. Taylor is suggesting deaths will rise significantly whatsapp filter unless things change, or whether he is concerned about the. NHS struggling to cope with its backlog, social care and other non-COVID patients.
Not blinking:
Playbook is told ministers, including the PM, are relatively relaxe about the surge in case numbers. So long as it does not lead to unmanageable hospitalizations and much higher deaths. A senior government insider said case rises are “obviously a concern” but stressed the prospect is lostsales the success of the vaccine. In breaking the link with hospitalizations means “we are in a different place. They said that rather than reach immediately for a return of non-pharmaceutical. Interventions (aka COVID restrictions), the government would continue to monitor hospitalizations and the NHS, and step up the booster campaign for elderly and vulnerable people.