UK COVID hospital admissions have surged by more than HALF in a week with 565 patients in 24 hours.
The increasing number – which is the highest since March – comes just over a week until England is set to completely unlock on July 19.
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Coronavirus cases have risen by 32,367 in the last day, bringing the total number of infections since the pandemic began to 5,089,893.
And 34 more fatalities were reported today, making the grim total 128,339.
This means that there has been a 30 per cent rise in cases – and a 62 per cent rise in deaths – in the last seven days.
And according to Government data up to July 9, of the 80,327,679 Covid jabs given in the UK so far, 45,786,550 were first doses – a rise of 88,675 on the previous day.
Some 34,541,129 were second doses – an increase of 166,883.
Today, a top doctor warned that Britain should NOT return to normal on July 19 after a “dangerous” rise in Covid cases.
Throwing away all coronavirus precautions on Freedom Day is alarming and will “add fuel to the fire” as Britain is already battling a “dangerous wave,” Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said.
Britain is also facing an NHS backlog that has built up over the last 15 months – which will increase pressure on the health service.
Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling Government advisory panel also agreed that “there is a risk” with the planned July 19 reopening.
All Covid restrictions, including mask-wearing, isolation, and social distancing, are set to come to an end in just over a week’s time.
But this comes at a time when cases are rising – and Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said deaths were beginning to rise again too.
VIRUS SPIKE
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I have been profoundly concerned for a week or two since talk of July 19 is ramping up.
“There seems to be a misapprehension that life will return to normal from then (July 19), and that we can throw away all the precautions, and frankly, that would be dangerous.”
Meanwhile, punters may need to present Covid vaccine certificates to enter bars and restaurants after summer amid fears of a fourth wave.
The Government shelved plans for jab passports to be compulsory when the country unlocks on Freedom Day – but refused to rule out the need for them in the future if cases spiral.
Ministers scrapped plans to make the use of certification to gain entry to some public spaces into law from July 19 as it would have been unfair on youngsters yet to have their second dose.
A No10 review of the proposed mandate also shined a light on the “burden” it would cause businesses hard-hit by months of lockdown.
But while Boris Johnson announced that jab passports will not be needed when Covid restrictions are lifted this month, No10 has hinted they made be used in coming months.
A note in the Government’s Freedom Day blueprint reads: “However, it is possible that certification could provide a means of keeping events going and businesses open, if the country is facing a difficult situation in autumn or winter.
“Any future implementation would involve consultation and appropriate parliamentary scrutiny.”
