AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
Highlights
- Sage member reported that the Government is planning ‘firebreak’ lockdown in October, if the infection rates and hospital admission keeps on increasing.
- However, some members feel the decision will depend on the success of the booster jab campaign.
- Though the UK government denied the plan, Vaccine minister Nadim Zahawi refused to rule out that some restrictions might get restored.
The Boris Johnson government might consider a ‘firebreak’ lockdown in October, if the infection rates and Coronavirus hospital admission keeps on increasing and threaten to overload the NHS, a senior government scientist and Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) member reportedly said on Tuesday.
The UK government’s contingency plan for a firebreak lockdown could lead to two-week school half-term period from late October to early November.
The hospitalisations cases in UK have consistently been above 900 a day over the past two weeks. If the government and NHS fail to address this, they will consider if the additional restrictions are required or not. The restrictions could range from limiting mass gathering and social distancing to the full lockdown for short term during which all, but non-essential shops will be allowed to remain operational. Further, there are chances that travel restrictions can be reimposed.
The Sage member said that as Covid deaths are increasing as compared to the same period in 2020. He said that the numbers may rise fivefold as compared to the numbers in late October 2020. “It would be best to have a contingency plan, and if required if can have a lockdown or restrictions so that it has minimal economic and societal impact.”
It is believed that since the end of lockdown on 19 July this year, the closure of schools has helped to avoid a sudden surge in Covid cases. However, the opening of schools in Scotland last month led to sharp increase in infection.
Also read: Are you fully vaccinated? Here are some benefits you can avail!
Though the Boris Johnson government denied the plan, but Vaccines minister Nadim Zahawi has refused to rule out the return of some restrictions during the autumn to get the situation under control.
Zahawi added to avoid imposition of restrictions in the winter, the government is intending to push Covid passports for entry into mass events and nightclubs. He hoped for the success of the booster jabs campaign, as it may help the country to avoid further restrictions.
He added that the full restrictions are unlikely and would be a last option. The school half-term could be extended to two weeks in late October and some measures could be introduced if NHS beyond breaking point, Zahawi said.
The government may also reintroduce strict mask wearing and social distancing rules this month to address the increase in number of cases and to prevent UK’s fourth lockdown.
Also read: COVID-19: Victoria lockdown stretched by three weeks
The government data on 6 September showed that the number of new cases are at 40,801 and 1,461 hospitalisations, as compared to while there were 16,479 covid cases and over 950 hospitalisation cases in October 2020.
In the UK around 48,270,113 people have received their first vaccine dose, while 43,455,083 have received both the doses.
