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UK buckling as COVID-19 cases and deaths soar

Monday, 04 January 2021 9:46 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 04 January 2021 10:09 PM ]

Bianca Rahimi
Press TV, London

The UK’s National Health Service is buckling under the pressure. A lack of beds and staff is taking its toll, with people being treated in ambulances queuing outside hospitals. Public health experts are warning it is going to get worse before it gets better.

The UK government is very proud of being the first country to roll out Covid-19 vaccines. The Pfizer jab on December 8th and the AstraZeneca vaccine on January 4th. More than a million Britons have received their first dose and the government says its target is to vaccinate tens of millions by April. Nonetheless, Downing Street is being accused of dithering and making poor decisions.

Schools were set to open January 4th but citing record high infection rates in some areas many were told to stay closed after the Christmas holidays, giving teachers only days to prepare for online teaching. The government has stopped short of announcing another lockdown, but the opposition says delaying the inevitable will cost lives.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there is no question that tougher restrictions are needed and that they will be announced in due course. This comes after the Health Secretary admitted the tier system was no strong enough to deal with the new variant which spreads much faster.

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