CHRISTMAS MAY BE DIFFICULT AS COVID NOT OVER -ENGLAND’S DEPUTY MEDICAL OFFICER

Thu 04 November 2021:

The COVID-19 epidemic is not ended, so Christmas may be difficult, England’s deputy chief medical officer cautioned on Wednesday, encouraging people to exercise caution and seek booster doses.

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom reported 293 deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily total since March, and there have been roughly 40,000 new cases per day on average in recent weeks.

In July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson eased restrictions in England, and he has said that instead of enforcing masks or lockdowns, he expects to deal with COVID this winter by relying on vaccinations.

“Too many people believe that this pandemic is now over. I personally feel there are some hard months to come in the winter and it is not over,” Jonathan Van-Tam told BBC TV, adding that behavior and the uptake of booster shots would determine how tough winter would be.

“Christmas and indeed all of the darker winter months are potentially going to be problematic.”

As he lifted restrictions, Johnson hailed Britain’s success in the first vaccination push, but a slower distribution of boosters meant that protection for many vulnerable people may be waning.

According to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), taking action now could prevent the need for tougher measures later.

Director of Wellcome, Jeremy Farrar, said he had stepped down from SAGE to focus on his work at the health charity, but added that the situation remained concerning.

“The Covid-19 crisis is a long way from over,” he said in a statement.

“The high levels of transmission seen in the UK remain concerning, but I stepped down as a participant of SAGE knowing ministers had been provided with most of the key science advice needed over the winter months.”

(with agency)

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