Boris Johnson says overall death toll will be ‘too high’
Speaking today, professor Devi Sridhar, chair of public health at Edinburgh University, claimed there is no option but to maintain the measures until March. Although acknowledging lockdowns are “crude”, professor Sridhar insisted measures must remain in order to bring case numbers down. While this would have catastrophic consequences for the UK’s economy, the health expert insisted the four nations must now be proactive with the virus.
Her warning came as Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, could not rule out extending the lockdown measures.
Professor Sridhar told Times Radio: “With the numbers where they’re at, there’s no other choice.
“For me, it’s a three-phase strategy – first is right now, it’s crude, it’s catastrophic for the economy and for people’s mental health, but a lockdown.
“Get those numbers down, protect the NHS for the next 12 weeks.”
Coronavirus: Measures must remain for 12 weeks (Image: PA)
Coronavirus: Matt Hancock (Image: GETTY)
England began its third national lockdown on January 5 and will at least last until mid-February.
Nicola Sturgeon also issued ‘stay at home’ order this week, while similar measures were also taken in Wales where schools and colleges will remain closed until half-term.
On Friday, Northern Ireland also issued further restrictions stopping the public from leaving their homes for non-essential reasons.
Due to rising case numbers, professor Sridhar, also added the nations must have adequate border measures in place by the spring in order not to see a further outbreak of the virus next winter.
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Coronavirus: She stated the measures must be in place due to the high case numbers (Image: GETTY)
She added: “When we get into March and hopefully numbers are low again and we get into seasonal change, get your testing and tracing and your border measures in place to really suppress.
“And then in the summer, instead of taking your foot off the gas and saying ‘let’s open up everything’, actually think ‘how do we prevent this winter from happening again?
“How do we actually protect that low prevalence, get emergency teams in place in case there are flare ups go in, have a quick, sharp one-week lockdown and get your testing and tracing to clear the virus.
“We can dictate how this evolves but we need a bit more agency in being more proactive and ahead of it instead of always behind it.”
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Coronavirus: The lockdown will last until next month (Image: GETTY)
Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon called a lockdown this week (Image: GETTY)
The lockdown was called after the spread of a new strain of the virus, which has caused case levels, especially in London and the South East, to rise dramatically.
By calling the latest lockdown, it is hoped the Government will be able to rollout its vaccine strategy across the country.
As of January 3, almost 1.3 million had been vaccinated but it is hoped, with the help of the British Army, the UK may reach 14 million by the middle of next month.
On January 9, the UK reported a further 59,937 cases combined with 1,035 further deaths.
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In order to stop the spread of the virus, a single-shot strategy for vaccines is now being rolled out.
The drugs need two jabs ideally two weeks apart but the UK will now attempt to vaccinate as many people as possible to provide some immunity.
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson called the lockdown on Monday (Image: GETTY)
More than half a million over-80s are set to receive the first jab next week.
The Government is also setting up seven new regional centres as well the Health Secretary claimed the UK was on course to administer 200,000 shots a day.
