NHS bosses have reportedly said ministers should urgently implement their “plan B” to contain the coronavirus this winter amid rising cases and deaths.
Guardian And the BBC reports the head of the NHS Confederation, Matthew Taylor, as saying Britain runs the risk of “stumbling into a winter crisis” without drastic measures.
It came as health officials reported the UK’s highest single-day Covid-19 death toll since March, with 223 people dying within 28 days of testing positive in the most recent 24-hour period. Daily new infections have topped 40,000 in the past week.
Downing Street said it was keeping a “very close watch” on the situation, but on Wednesday morning a cabinet minister ruled out a new lockdown this winter.
NHS bosses urge implementation of ‘Plan B’ amid rising cases and deaths
The head of the NHS Confederation has urged ministers to implement their “Plan B” to tackle the coronavirus this winter, amid increased infections and deaths.
The BBC reports Matthew Taylor as saying: “The NHS is preparing for what could be the most challenging winter on record.
“It is time for the government to implement Plan B of its strategy without delay because without pre-emptive action, we risk stumbling into a winter crisis.”
Whitehall “shouldn’t wait for the panic alarm to sound before the rocket of Covid infections and the pressure from the NHS hit the skies”, he said.
Plan B includes the re-introduction of mandatory face masks and the introduction of a vaccine passport, along with advice to work from home where possible.
Plan A, which is currently in place, is for the rollout of the vaccine to the majority of the population and providing booster jabs where necessary.
On Wednesday morning, a cabinet minister ruled out a complete winter lockdown, calling any discussion of the idea “unhelpful”.
Yesterday’s death toll in a single day was the highest since March 223.
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UK sees highest daily number of Covid deaths since March
So far 3.1 million people have received Covid booster jabs in ‘extremely slow’ roll-out
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Credit: www.independent.co.uk /
