Medical experts on Wednesday warned the British government to prepare for the “real risk” of a second wave of coronavirus just a day after the biggest lifting of lock restrictions in England.
“While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is difficult to predict, the available evidence indicates that local outbreaks are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk,” the experts said in an open print letter. in the British Medical Journal. .
The letter added that the primary task was “to ensure that the country was sufficiently prepared to contain a second phase”.
It was signed by 16 leading experts, including the heads of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal College of Nursing.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday what he called the start of the end of “national hibernation”, allowing the reopening of a large part of the hotel, culture and tourism sectors in England from July 4th.
This includes pubs, hotels, restaurants, museums and galleries. The two-meter social distance rule, in effect since March, has also been relaxed to one meter, subject to measures such as the use of face covers.
The move was seen as vital to much of the economy, which is facing recession and large-scale job losses after more than three months of closings and restrictions on home support.
But the decision to effectively lift the foreclosure was immediately called into question.
Former government chief science advisor David King told Sky News Television that the decision was “extremely risky” and that it was a political decision rather than a scientific one.
Alok Sharma, secretary for government affairs, told the broadcaster that the lifting of the restrictions was justified and that there was “no difference between ensuring the security of people and protecting livelihoods”.
Britain has recorded nearly 43,000 deaths among those who tested positive for COVID-19 – the worst record in Europe – and announced Tuesday 171 more deaths.
However, the actual figure is probably closer to 60,000, based on an analysis of excessive deaths.
The easing announced by Johnson on Tuesday only applies to England, with the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh decentralized administrations setting their own guidelines.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
