UK COVID-19 infections rise as ministers fret over second wave in Europe

[webfact]

UK COVID-19 infections rise as ministers fret over second wave in Europe

By Estelle Shirbon and William James

 

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain reported its highest number of new COVID-19 infections in more than a month on Thursday, as ministers fretted about a second wave of cases in Europe and warned more quarantine restrictions were possible.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said COVID-19 was under some measure of control in Britain, but a resurgence in some European countries showed the pandemic was not over.

 

"It is absolutely vital as a country that we continue to keep our focus and our discipline, and that we don't delude ourselves that somehow we are out of the woods or that that is all over, because it isn't all over," he said.

 

Hours later, official data showed 846 new positive tests in Britain - the highest number of daily infections since June 28.

 

Reflecting rising cases in some European countries, Britain has already reimposed a 14-day quarantine period on people arriving from Spain, a move that caused havoc with the reopening of the continent for tourism in the summer high season.

 

Luxembourg was added to the quarantine list on Thursday, with all arrivals ordered to self-isolate for 14 days, starting at 1100 GMT.

 

Earlier, British health minister Matt Hancock stopped short of saying which European countries might end up back on the quarantine list, but cited France as an example of one where infections have lately risen.

 

"I am worried about a second wave. I think you can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe, and we've got to do everything we can to prevent it from reaching these shores, and to tackle it," Hancock said during an interview on Sky News.

 

When asked whether Britons should be prepared for more measures to be announced within the next few days, he said yes.

 

"The number of cases have gone up sharply in some countries in Europe ... France now has more cases than we do, per day, and in Spain we saw the numbers shoot up which is why we had to take the rapid action that we did," Hancock said on Talk Radio.

 

France reported almost 1,400 new cases on Wednesday, the highest daily increase in more than a month.

 

Hancock said the authorities were working on possible ways to shorten the quarantine period for people coming from Spain, such as by testing them during the quarantine period.

 

"But we are not imminently making an announcement on it," he said in a BBC television interview.

 

An analysis from Britain's statistics office showed on Thursday that the country has suffered the highest rate of excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in a comparison of 21 European countries.

 

(Writing by Estelle Shirbon and William James; Editing by Peter Graff, Frances Kerry and Alex Richardson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-31

 

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[J Town]

Former presidential candidate Herman Cain just passed from Covid-19.

[roo860]

Ah Yes, all these doctors and skilled workers turning up,  cultural diversity at its best!!!

[soalbundy]

This will be like the flu, it's not going to go away so get used to it, in winter you'll get the 3rd or 4th wave. Yes by then there will be a vaccine but like the flu you will probably need a new one every year, you can't shut down forever so bite the bullet and live with it.

[mrfill]

31 minutes ago, Bryacar said:

Nothing to do with the crowded pubs, beaches, and all the relaxed restrictions then?

Not at all. That doesn't fit the agenda.

[transam]

1 hour ago, Bryacar said:

Nothing to do with the crowded pubs, beaches, and all the relaxed restrictions then?

Folk, it seems, do not take any notice of advice, but they soon complain when they are struck down with it. Look how many people on here have complained about wearing a mask....????

[evadgib]

Prime Minister's statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 31 July 2020

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.  Please stay on topic.   Posts about illegals is not appropriate for this thread other than how it relates to COVID-19.

 

[dunroaming]

4 hours ago, Bryacar said:

Nothing to do with the crowded pubs, beaches, and all the relaxed restrictions then?

The current spike is in the north with the greater Manchester area, east Lancashire and West Yorkshire (and of course Leicester) showing the greater amount.  Consequently new lockdown restrictions have been put in place in those areas.  The blame is put on families and friends in those areas not keeping to the distancing rules but if you look at the pubs and outside venues around Manchester they are swarming with young people enjoying the warm weather.  No social distancing in sight.

 

Australia seeing rises and Vietnam now reporting many more cases and the first death.  Brain dead Brit's still heading for Spain and the med.  This pandemic is no where near ending and while stupid people carry on being stupid it will probably get worse. 

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

There's enough of problem with Covid 19 in the UK now without any more turning up. Blackburn, Rochdale, Barnsley, Burnley, Darwin, Leicester, and other areas around greater Manchester are having restrictions imposed, all have a large Pakistani and Indian population, they don't understand social distancing!

Seeking as though these people are apparently more at risk then it's a good thing putting in restrictions. 

Pathetic racist comments are pretty pitiful at a time when the the whole world  is experiencing the worse pandemic in recent times.

Edited July 31, 2020 by dunroaming

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been removed.  This topic is about the UK Covid infections, not Thailand.  

 

[izod10]

2 hours ago, roo860 said:

There's enough of problem with Covid 19 in the UK now without any more turning up. Blackburn, Rochdale, Barnsley, Burnley, Darwin, Leicester, and other areas around greater Manchester are having restrictions imposed, all have a large Pakistani and Indian population, they don't understand social distancing!

Seeking as though these people are apparently more at risk then it's a good thing putting in restrictions. 

Why restrict the above towns?  the population of the named towns do not understand (language) or cannot be bothered(perhaps seen as racist).  Just let them enjoy themselves instead of locking them up

[evadgib]

Quote

The MP told LBC radio there were "sections of the community that are not taking the pandemic seriously". When asked if he was talking about the Muslim community, he replied: "Of course."

He went on to say he was talking specifically about the situation in his constituency, particularly in three wards in Halifax where there was a high proportion of Asian residents, or houses of multiple occupancy.

"If you look at the areas where we've seen rises and cases, the vast majority, but not by any stretch of the imagination all areas, it is the BAME communities that are not taking this seriously enough."

Asked to justify his comments in an interview with the BBC, Mr Whittaker said he was basing them on data from the UK's test and trace system for infection rates in the borough of Calderdale....

Craig Whittaker: MP defends saying some Muslims not taking covid seriously

[ukrules]

I think they should ignore the problem.

 

The problem of people not following the rules will 'self heal' in the end after the rule breakers and all their families become infected. Some will die, most won't. Such is life.

[Scott]

A post has been removed.  It's a discussion forum.   Generally, memes are not a part of a discussion.  

 

[RuamRudy]

On 7/31/2020 at 7:06 AM, webfact said:

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said COVID-19 was under some measure of control in Britain, but a resurgence in some European countries showed the pandemic was not over.

Does this man think the population is stupid? I guess the fact that he is PM is, partially, testament to that being true, but a blind man's dog can see that the UK is the leader of the pack when it comes to failure to manage COVID. How utterly disingenuous of him to try to deflect from his incompetence by trying to suggest that their are bigger failures than his within Europe. 

[rabas]

 What happened to it's just a flu, warmer weather will knock it out?

 

[evadgib]

1 hour ago, rabas said:

 What happened to it's just a flu, warmer weather will knock it out?

The tsunami of arrivals on the Kent coast that HMG are bussing into city centre hotels around the Kingdom despite the obvious health and security risks explains. MSM are suppressing where possible but details are widely available inc numbers and supporting video evidence. UK taxpayers (✓) have every right to feel miffed; not least at the shear scale by which they are being deceived.

HTH

Edited August 1, 2020 by evadgib

[elliss]

 

 Winter weather in the UK , ideal for Covid-19 ..

  We ain't seen nothing yet ..