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PA Media
The newest “massive change” in coronavirus infections throughout the UK is of “great concern”, England’s deputy chief medical officer has warned.
Prof Jonathan Van Tam stated individuals have “relaxed an excessive amount of” over the summer season and “we’ve got received to begin taking this very critically once more”.
If not, the UK may have “a bumpy experience over the subsequent few months”, he warned.
He stated that infections amongst youthful individuals in EU international locations had later filtered by means of to older age teams.
His feedback got here as extra components of the UK are to face more durable restrictions following a rise in the variety of cases.
On Sunday UK authorities introduced 2,988 new cases – the very best determine since 22 Might, whereas a additional 2,948 cases had been reported in the 24 hours to 09:00 BST on Monday.
Stricter guidelines on dwelling visits can be prolonged to 2 extra areas in the west of Scotland from midnight.
In Wales, the county borough of Caerphilly is to be positioned underneath a native lockdown from 18:00 BST on Tuesday.
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“Folks have relaxed an excessive amount of, now’s the time for us to re-engage, and to grasp that this a persevering with menace to us,” Prof Van Tam stated.
He added that hospital admissions and deaths had been “at a very low degree” in the UK and the rise in cases was most distinguished amongst these aged between 17 and 21 – however the nation dangers following the trajectory of some EU international locations.
“The place case numbers rise initially in the youthful components of the inhabitants they do in flip filter by means of and begin to give elevated charges of illness and hospital admissions in the older age teams, and we all know that then turns into a critical public well being downside,” he stated.
“The truth that 17 to 21-year-olds should not changing into unwell means they’re fortunate, however additionally they overlook as a result of the illness is just not extreme for them that they’re potent spreaders.”
Prof Van Tam added that the development had moved away from “particular hotspots”, such because the one which occurred in Leicester final month.
As an alternative, “there may be a extra basic and creeping geographic development throughout the UK that illness ranges are actually starting to show up”.
He urged public well being officers and politicians to consider how the virus is managed not in the quick time period, however over the subsequent six months and “till the spring”.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has additionally introduced travellers arriving in England from seven Greek islands must self-isolate for 14 days from 04:00 BST on Wednesday.
They’re Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos, and Zakynthos (also referred to as Zante).
