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