LONDON (Reuters) -England is not going to get any new COVID-19 restrictions earlier than the tip of 2021, British well being minister Sajid Javid mentioned on Monday, because the government awaits extra proof on whether or not the well being service can deal with excessive an infection charges.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to withstand new measures, which might be unpopular inside his personal get together, regardless of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all bringing in new guidelines.
Although partial figures reported by the government on Monday confirmed 98,515 new circumstances of COVID-19 in England, Javid mentioned ministers wouldn’t be taking any new steps to restrict the unfold of the coronavirus in the approaching days.
Once knowledge for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is added to the English figures, it’s prone to present circumstances for Britain as an entire solely barely under a Dec. 24 peak of 122,186.
“There might be no additional measures earlier than the new yr,” Javid informed reporters, including: “When we get into the new yr, in fact we are going to see then whether or not we do must take any additional measures.”
He mentioned that the extremely transmissible Omicron variant of the virus now accounted for round 90% of circumstances throughout England and urged folks to have a good time New Year cautiously.
The government’s consideration is targeted on the variety of sufferers being hospitalised with Omicron after early knowledge final week recommended the variant carried a decrease threat of admission.
The newest knowledge confirmed the variety of sufferers in hospital in England with COVID-19 was its highest since March, at 8,474, however a great distance off peaks above 34,000 in January.
A mix of things, together with Britain’s vaccination programme, the lag between infections and hospitalisations and the doubtless much less dangerous results of the Omicron variant have all been put ahead by well being specialists as attainable explanations for decrease numbers.
Nevertheless, Britain has reported a complete of 148,003 deaths inside 28 days of a optimistic COVID-19 check, and 12.2 million optimistic assessments through the pandemic up to now.
Johnson met along with his high scientific and medical advisers on Monday to debate the most recent knowledge.
With Britain’s state-funded healthcare system already stretched, any signal the variety of admissions threatens to overwhelm hospitals might result in the reintroduction of guidelines limiting folks’s freedom to socialize.
“We will watch rigorously what is going on in the hospitals,” Javid mentioned. “Should, in the long run, we have to act, in fact we cannot hesitate to take action.”
Hospitals in Britain have warned that employees absences as a consequence of COVID-19 might threat affected person security. Many industries and transport networks are additionally fighting employee shortages.
However, Johnson is below stress from his personal Conservative Party after a string of political scandals which have undermined his authority. Many Conservative lawmakers are sceptical that the advantages of new restrictions outweigh their financial prices.
Data launched on Monday confirmed that numbers of consumers and diners in London’s West End on Dec. 26 – traditionally one of many busiest purchasing days of the yr – have been down week on week, and solely simply above half their pre-pandemic ranges.
(Reporting by William James, Editing by Louise Heavens and Alexander Smith)
