LONDON (Reuters) – Britain has reactivated emergency hospitals built at the start of the pandemic and closed primary schools on Friday to counter the rapid spread of a more infectious variant of coronavirus.
With more than 50,000 new daily cases of COVID-19 in the past four days, the health service said it was preparing for an anticipated pile of patients and needed more beds.
The announcement comes just days after Royal London Hospital told employees via email that it is now in “disaster medicine mode” and cannot provide critical care at high standards.
With the capital one of the areas most affected by the new variant, which is up to 70% more infectious, the government has also decided to close all primary schools in London, reversing a decision taken just two days ago.
“The education and welfare of children remain a national priority,” said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. “Moving more parts of London to distance education is indeed a last resort and a temporary solution.”
Britain is battling a new wave of viruses that has already killed more than 74,000 people and shattered the economy. One of the most affected countries in the world, recorded on Friday 53,285 cases in the last 24 hours and 613 new deaths.
The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticized for frequent reversals during the pandemic, including the delay in the blockade during the first wave of March and the abandonment of a system for awarding school grades without exams.
The temporary “Nightingale” hospitals in locations such as convention centers were a success, built by the military in a matter of days. They were barely used, but remained on hold.
A Sky News report said intensive care units in three London hospitals were full on New Year’s Eve, forcing patients to be transferred to other hospitals for critical care.
“In anticipation of increasing pressure due to the spread of the new variant of the infection, the NHS Region in London has been asked to ensure that Nightingale has been reactivated and ready to admit patients if needed,” said a spokeswoman for the National Health Service. Health (NHS).
The Royal College of Healthcare, however, has warned that the country does not have enough nurses to hire new sites, especially with many virus patients or people forced to isolate themselves.
With regard to schooling, the government has said it must close all primary schools in the capital following a review of transmission rates. On Wednesday, Williamson unveiled a plan to delay the reopening of high schools, but opened most mayors, including much of the capital, in time next week after the Christmas break.
The opposition Labor Party has said the last-minute reversal will wreak havoc on parents.
Reporting by Kate Holton; Edited by David Goodman