(London) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson again refused to toughen health measures on Tuesday, despite more than 200,000 coronavirus cases recorded in the UK during the day and mounting pressure on the hospital.
According to figures released by the government, 218,724 positive tests were identified in 24 hours. The country, one of the most bereaved in Europe with at least 148,941 dead, recorded 48 more deaths on Tuesday.
Even though this unprecedented number of cases since the start of the pandemic includes some not counted over the weekend, Boris Johnson called on the British to "exercise the utmost caution" in their behavior.
"Anyone who thinks that our battle against COVID-19 is over is, I'm afraid, deeply wrong," the leader added at a press conference, stressing, however, that "our position today differs from previous waves Thanks to vaccination.
“We have a chance to survive this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again,” he said. "We can find a way to live with this virus."
He again rejected the imposition of new restrictions in England, in addition to teleworking and the wearing of masks already in place, banking on screening and the vaccination campaign.
Omicron "more moderate"
Hospitalizations remain much smaller for the moment than during the waves of last winter, with around 14,000 people in hospital, including nearly 2,000 new admissions on Tuesday.
The number of ventilator patients (883 in total) and deaths are increasing slightly so far.
This is due, according to Boris Johnson, to the fact that the Omicron variant, now in the majority in the United Kingdom, "is more moderate than the previous variants" which have hit the country. But also to the vast vaccination campaign launched by the government.
"90% of people in intensive care with COVID-19 have not had their booster, and over 60% have not been vaccinated at all," Johnson said, touting the merits of a booster campaign massive vaccine which, according to him, allowed an additional dose to be administered to 76% of adults.
The surge in cases linked to the highly contagious Omicron variant, however, results in absenteeism causing dysfunctions in several sectors, particularly in the health sector.
At least six hospitals declared "critical incidents" on Tuesday, meaning the situation could affect priority care.
On Monday, Boris Johnson warned that the pressure on the public health service and hospitals would be "considerable over the next two weeks, and perhaps more".
“We cannot escape the fact that some services will be disrupted by staff absences,” he said on Tuesday. "But we have worked to prepare for it as much as possible."
The lack of staff also affects the return to school after the holidays on Tuesday in England, where the government has renewed its call for retired teachers to come in as reinforcements.
The recovery also raises fears of a further rise in contamination
To avoid spreading the coronavirus, middle and high school students are tested in their establishments and must wear masks in class.
The Prime Minister has warned of "difficult weeks ahead", but believes that "the disruption we face will be much less serious than a national lockdown, with all the devastating effects that would entail."