NHS Confederation - Jump in COVID infections makes growing case for slowing lifting of restrictions

3 Jun 2021 01:52 PM

Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, responded to the latest NHS test and trace figures, which show the highest weekly number of people testing positive since the week ending 14 April 

“The continuing and worryingly rapid rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 provides important data that must be considered in government decisions about whether to slow or pause the timeline for further lifting of restrictions. Making wise, evidence-based decisions now could provide a vital safeguard for the NHS and the public in the longer term.

“Health leaders are clear that a new wave of infections must be avoided or at least mitigated, as it could lead to more serious illness and more hospital admissions, which in turn could hamper efforts to restore services and clear the enormous treatment backlogs.

“The vaccination programme, coupled with the public’s adherence to lockdown restrictions, puts us in a much better position than we were at the end of 2020 when we saw the last spike in infections. But half the adult population has yet to receive two doses of a vaccine, which is now even more important in the face of rising cases of the delta variant. There is still a long way to go and now is the time to take action to prevent harmful consequences further down the line.”