THE Covid threat level has today moved up to its highest level for the first time ever leaving the NHS at risk of collapsing.
Under the red level five alert, there is a “material risk” of hospitals being overwhelmed and stricter social distancing measures in place.
The Covid alert level has risen to alert level five which means a rise in infections could cripple the health service
It comes as it was announced the Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tonight address the nation, as he outlines how to curb the spread of coronavirus infections.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre – which includes the UK’s four Chief Medical Officers – has moved up the Covid threat.
Level five is introduced when transmission is high or rising which could ultimately cripple healthcare services.
It is determined by the UK’s R number and the number of confirmed Covid cases at any one time.
The system is different to the Covid tiers currently in place across the UK.
It was introduced as part of the government’s “road map” for navigating the UK out of the pandemic.
The UK moved down to Level three from four on June 19 as part of a gradual easing of lockdown measures.
But it rose again in September as infections continued to rise.
This is the first time Level five has been introduced and comes as a mutant strain of the disease rampages across the UK.
Mr Johnson is due to reveal a fresh lockdown tonight with an address to the nation.
A No10 spokesman said: ‘The spread of the new variant of Covid-19 has led to rapidly escalating case numbers across the country.
“The Prime Minister is clear that further steps must now be taken to arrest this rise and to protect the NHS and save lives.
Parliament will also be recalled today to sit on Wednesday – meaning there will likely be a vote on the measures, and they are expected to be national rather than regional.
However, the new measures could be imposed as early as tonight with MPs given a retrospective say.
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