COVID CATASTROPHY CONTINUES

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Witty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance released a presentation about the devastating increase of Coronavirus cases, hospital admissions and deaths and the devastating effects it continues to cause. 

At 11am on the 21st September 2020, the country tuned in to listen to the news regarding an update on the COVID-19 crisis. On the 15th of September 2020, there were 3,105 new cases of this deadly disease. With the virus trend doubling every 7 days, there is an estimate that there could be 49,000 cases by October 13 leading to 200 deaths a day by mid-November.

‘All of our problems...’

This virus has the chance to move very fast, once again. Many believe that they are exempt from getting the virus again, but in fact fewer than 8% of people overall have developed antibodies from the virus. That’s only 3 million people.

The rate of infection is the highest in the North of the country but it is not just their problem as Witty said it’s ‘All of our problems’. It was also mentioned that this will not be a quick fix and should be prepare for a ‘6 month problem’ and eventually ‘science will come to the rescue’. This second wave has the potential to be as destructive as the first. The average flu deaths a year is 7,000 a year. This virus has taken over and killed so many more.

This is not over. We must reduce the individual risk ‘hands, face space.’ Self-Isolating must be done when necessary. We must not break unnecessary risks. However we must invest in Science, a vaccine is looking hopeful. Overwhelming the NHS is something we cannot afford to do the risk of doing this is huge. It could result in the reduction in early diagnosis in other areas causing further distress. We must protect each other.