British health workers have asked the government to reimpose some restrictions, such as the mandatory use of masks, to avoid a health crisis this winter due to the surge in COVID-19 infections.
According to the latest official figures, Yesterday the UK recorded another 223 deaths from Covid-19 – the highest number since last March – and 43,738 new cases, while 78.9% of those over 12 years of age had already received their full vaccination schedule.
Faced with a spike in infections, the Public Health Consortium (NHS), which represents health service organisations, has asked the executive to immediately implement so-called Plan B, which would entail the mandatory reintroduction of the use of masks on public transport. closed spaces and you will be required to work from home.
The head of the aforementioned union, Matthew Taylor, in statements to British media, requested this Plan B to prevent hospital overcrowding this winter, when an increase in influenza care is also expected.
“The NHS is preparing for what could be the most difficult winter. It is time for the government to implement Plan B of its strategy without delay, because without preventive measures, we are in danger of falling into a crisis this winter,” he said. Taylor.
However, executive Boris Johnson insisted he has no intention of implementing restrictions for now, although he admitted he is following the data carefully.
British Enterprise Minister Kwasi Quarting told Sky Today that the government did not want another shutdown and described requests in this regard as “very unhelpful”.
“We don’t want to go back to confinement or more restrictions,” the minister emphasized, noting that a year ago the country had not yet started its COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The government has already introduced a plan to boost the vaccine – a third dose – for those over 50 and the most vulnerable groups, as immunity to COVID-19 begins to decline over time after the second dose, according to experts.
On Tuesday, scientist Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London said the plan to provide booster vaccines was “crucial” to control the epidemic and must be accelerated.
Ferguson is a member of the so-called Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage, in English), which advises the British government on COVID-19 containment measures.
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