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Hospitals in England are hurtling towards having 20,000 coronavirus patients who need NHS treatment on New Year s Eve, according to dire projections that will bolster calls for No10 to introduce another draconian lockdown in 2021.
Department of Health statistics show 18,227 Covid-infected patients were being cared for in hospitals across the nation on Christmas Eve - a 15 per cent rise in a week. Top officials say a highly infectious strain spreading rapidly across the country is to blame.
For comparison, April 12 was the busiest day of the pandemic so far for hospitals in England, when 18,974 patients were occupying beds.
The Health Service Journal, a trade publication aimed at health bosses, has calculated that the number of Covid patients is rising by around 250 each day, meaning NHS England is on course to exceed the first wave in the next few days and, possibly, top 20,000 on New Year s Eve .
Masks should be worn outdoors in Scotland to stop spread of new virus strain, experts say
Experts say face masks should be worn in public spaces outdoors as well as indoors to protect the NHS.
Top docs are calling on Scots to wear masks outdoors. (Image: Reach)
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Griffin said the public should wear masks at every possible opportunity, in outdoor public spaces as well as inside. He also recommended unis should delay the return of their students in the New Year because of the increased cases in halls this September.
He said: I think this new variant of Covid has changed our thinking on all of this. Above all, we wanted schools to continue - it was crucial for children s development and education, and university education as well. However, the prospect of these vaccines becoming available to mean we have the potential to get rid of this disease.
SCOTLAND faces a “perfect storm” and the NHS may struggle to cope with the after-effect of Christmas as hospitals are already working at near capacity, medical leaders have warned.
Members of the Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties have spoken out amid concerns that the health service may not be able to cope with a further surge in Covid-19 infections and could be “overwhelmed.”
In a statement, the group said the government should consider all possible measures with the possibility it could take months for vaccinations to have an impact on the spread of the virus.
The organisation also stressed the importance of the public playing their part.
BBC News
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Clinicians are warning health services could be overwhelmed by any surge in coronavirus cases after restrictions were temporarily eased at Christmas.
The Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties also said the new faster spreading strain of the virus could create a perfect storm .
They warned it could take months for vaccinations to alleviate pressure on the severely stretched system.
However Scotland s clinical director denied the system could be overwhelmed.
Prof Jason Leitch said measures were already in place to increase capacity where it was needed.
But the Scottish Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties, which includes anaesthetists, GPs and surgeons, said the short term situation for the NHS remained bleak , despite hope from the vaccine.