The United Kingdom has recorded more than 1,000 COVID-19 daily deaths for the first time since April as the government struggles to deal with a new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus.
The four nations of the United Kingdom recorded 1,041 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus on Wednesday and a further 62,322 new COVID-19 cases, according to official data.
Britain has been among the countries worst-hit by COVID-19, with the highest death toll in Europe.
The national news came as Sir Richard Leese said that Greater Manchester’s hospitals are at risk of ‘falling over’ in the next three weeks due to an ‘unprecedented’ surge in Covid cases,warning that cancer operations are very likely to be cancelled.
“Others, including the secretary of state for health, talked about our hospitals falling over. It was part of the argument for putting us into tier 3 months ago. I don’t believe we were at risk of falling over at that time. I now do believe that we are at serious risk of falling over, and that really does mean we have to do everything possible to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Sir Richard said that of Covid hospital admissions in the past week ”This is where there has been phenomenal change, there has been a very rapid increase in admissions,”
During this afternoon’s Greater Manchester Press Conference, the Deputy Mayor of Manchester Beverly Hughes said that the region we will see a rise in infections, unless people comply with the restrictions.
“Largely, the people who aren’t complying aren’t putting their own lives at risk, it’s the lives of their older relatives and older people of the community.”
David Regan, Manchester’s Director of Public Health, said: “It cannot be stressed enough how precarious a situation we find ourselves in. A new, more easily transmissible strain of Covid-19 has emerged which is causing new cases to increase quicker than ever. It is essential that we stick to the new rules that have been put in place to protect as many people as possible, take pressure off the NHS and social care, and give vaccination teams the time they need to do their vital work.
“The next few months will be crucial in determining how fast life will be able to return to normal. I would urge everyone to stick to the rules and limit their contact with as many people as possible so we can achieve that goal.”
Reacting to the UK figures Labour leader Kier starmer said:
“This is a tragedy.It’s not bad luck.It was not inevitable.The Government has been too slow to react.We now need a national effort to get our country vaccinated.”
