Filenews 16 September 2020
Further covid restrictions are being considered by the government in Britain if the ban on gatherings of more than six people is not respected by citizens and does not help reduce cases.
According to an ITV report, the Government and its scientific advisers are concerned that the virus may get out of hand, as more than 3,500 cases a day have been recorded in the last week.
On the basis of the same information, decisions on whether the 'rule of six' is working and on even stricter measures will be taken in two weeks' time.
"Almost every measure of social distancing should be considered, except for the closure of schools," a government official was quoted as saying. However the government argues that there will not be a second universal national lockdown like that of spring.
His opposition to the six rule and the government's degree of control over people's daily lives is expressed in an article in the Daily Telegraph by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
The primate of the Anglican Church comments that the government should centrally define only what is necessary and that the Church's principle of "local" decisions needs to be adopted.
Concern about the upward trend in cases has intensified following the revelation that a hospital in the Manchester area is under investigation by the public health service NHS, because last week some patients died having contracted the coronavirus while being hospitalised for other conditions.
According to newer data, the rate of virus infection among citizens aged 40-49 has risen to 23 people per 100,000, the same proportion as for those aged 20-29 three weeks ago.
At the same time, the government is concerned about the inability to meet the increased demand for diagnostic tests. Currently, for many citizens who show symptoms of coronavirus, it is difficult to make an appointment or order a diagnostic test. A particular problem is students who get sick, with their parents not always having easy access to tests, resulting in children losing their lessons and parents staying away from work.
Health Minister Matt Hancock, who has been heavily criticised for the new "chaos" as described by a section of the press, has essentially heralded a restriction on the availability of tests to specific categories of population that will be judged to be prioritised, such as health workers and possibly pupils and parents.
Source: eyenews / CYPE