Covid Restrictions May Be Reintroduced in England

• England may have to reimpose Covid rules in August, scientists warn
• mandatory masks and working from home advice could be reinstated if hospital admissions rise

Face masks and other Covid restrictions could be reintroduced in England in as little as three weeks if hospital admissions rise above anticipated levels, says an article in The Guardian.

Covid restriction in England

Members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have reportedly said Boris Johnson should be ready to take action in the first week of August to avoid the NHS being overwhelmed.

The i reports that if admissions exceed central estimates – that daily hospitalizations in the UK will peak at the end of next month at between 1,000 and 2,000 and daily deaths will reach 100 to 200 – Sage scientists have advised that some measures such as mandatory masks and working from home advice should be reinstated at the beginning of August.

Covid cases to rise

Recent government figures show that in the middle of July – six weeks ahead of the forecasted peak and before removal of England’s coronavirus restrictions on 19 July – the UK had already reached 745 daily hospital admissions and this has continued to rise.