Boris Johnson
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Boris Johnson paved the way for the blockade rules to last a few more months, as coronavirus deaths in the UK reached the highest daily number since April.
Speaking in parliament before the vote to approve the measures, the prime minister said the pandemic restrictions would be lifted only gradually. While schools will be a priority for reopening, the goal of returning to face-to-face teaching on February 22 is far from certain, he warned.
“As was the case last spring, our exit from the locking cocoon will not be a big explosion, but a gradual undoing,” Johnson said. The House of Commons voted 524 to 16 in support of the new restrictions on Wednesday night.
The government has tried to dampen expectations for a rapid end to pandemic borders – despite a mass vaccination program – while infections and hospitalizations have continued to rise and build up pressure on the National Health Service. Hospitals in London are less than two weeks away from being overwhelmed by the virus, even at best, Health Service Journal reported, citing a presentation by NHS England.
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
The UK reported 1,041 new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday within 28 days of a positive test, the highest daily increase since April. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were now 30,074 patients with the virus in UK hospitals.
The rise in the number of cases has forced authorities to impose a third nationwide blockade in the UK this week, closing schools and putting the economy underway for a potentially devastating double-dip recession.
Scrapped examinations
While millions of children are being taught online at home until at least mid-February, ministers have confirmed that the A and GCSE exams scheduled for May and June will be canceled this year as well due to the pandemic. Instead, students will be graded by their teachers.
School exams have been replaced and replaced with teacher grades in England
The government aims to slow the spread of the virus as much as possible so that hospitals are not overwhelmed, buying time for doctors to vaccinate nearly 14 million of the most vulnerable people and caregivers by February 15th. About 1.3 million have already received a dose.
“After last year’s marathon, we’re really in a sprint, a race to vaccinate the vulnerable faster than the virus can reach them,” Johnson said.
Hancock faced questions from his own Conservative colleagues in Parliament about the timing of the vaccine launch and how quickly the blocking rules will be lifted. He agreed that the UK urgently needs to increase its supply of approved vaccines and told manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca works as hard as possible to deliver.
Hancock promised to eliminate “unnecessary bureaucracy” for those who volunteer to administer vaccines and said he wanted to see pharmacists and former doctors. There are nearly 1,000 vaccination sites ready across the country, according to the government.
The UK is reporting 1,041 new virus deaths, most from April
Johnson faces an imminent confrontation with his own party in February, when the national blockade is scheduled to end. Mark Harper, a former cabinet minister, said there should be no reason to continue the restrictions once the most vulnerable people have been vaccinated.
Hancock called for caution, saying the government must see the “impact” of vaccinations on the pandemic and “break the link” between cases and deaths before the rules can be eased.
– With the assistance of Charles Capel and Joe Mayes