Last night, it was announced that the UK would be moving to the “delay” phase of its plan to deal with coronavirus.
Describing the virus as “the worst public health crisis for a generation”, PM Boris Johnson warned British families that many face “losing loved ones before their time”.
Where are we now?
In total, 10 people have now died in the UK from the virus.
There have been 596 confirmed cases across the country. However, the actual number of people infected could be between 5,000 and 10,000, the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has said.
As part of the new measures, schools have been advised to cancel trips abroad, while people over 70 and those with pre-existing health conditions have been told not to go on cruises.
This morning has seen the postponement of all Premier League and EFL matches until April 3rd, in an attempt to ease the strain on emergency services.
Testing will now only focus on identifying people with the virus in hospital. People with mild symptoms are no longer required to call NHS 111, but are advised to look for information on the NHS website and self-isolate for seven days.
Why are the measures not stricter?
These latest measures from the government have drawn criticism, not least from ex-Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, for not going far enough.
Compared to the approach of other countries, our government’s response seems strangely low-key. In the past week, we have seen Italy’s government place the whole country under quarantine and order all bars, restaurants and hairdressers to close. Following Boris Johnson’s announcement, the Scottish government said that it would be going further and restricting all mass gatherings, and the Irish government has closed all schools and public facilities.
Our government’s approach is no doubt different, but will prove far more effective in the long run, Sir Patrick Vallance has said.
Speaking on BBC News, Vallance said it is vitally important to get the timing right for stricter measures if we are to “reduce the peak” of the virus and protect those most vulnerable. He argued that just before this peak is reached will be the time to introduce stricter measures, because this is “when people are most likely to get infected”.
If such measures are brought in too soon, he said, people may well tire of them and get complacent long before the peak is reached, and they could end up having very little effect.
He also said that closing schools was a “very effective way of dealing with pandemic flu”, but that with Covid-19, “the role of children is less clear in terms of spreading the disease”.
Ultimately, he hopes that the government’s approach will create a “herd immunity” in the UK which will help reduce transmission.
What should I do now?
It seems strange to say, but implicit in the government’s announcement is that, for now, we should all try to get on with our lives as best we can.
We should still go to work, school and out to socialise because, as Patrick Vallance reminded us last night, “the most likely place you are going to get an infection from is a family member or friend in a small space, not in a big space.”
We should all be washing our hands thoroughly and regularly, and self-isolating for 7 days if we develop a cough or high temperature.
Featured image: © 59th Medical Wing.
