Act now, Boris! Doctors issue urgent alert and order PM to make SEVEN critical changes

BORIS Johnson has been told emergency action is now needed to slow the spread of COVID-19 - with the Prime Minister urged to put seven key measures in place as soon as possible.

By Ciaran McGrath, Senior News Reporter

Covid: ‘Three times’ more deaths than flu and pneumonia

Scientists with have warned it is now too late to rely on contact tracing to contain the , with the number of cases in the North likely to reach levels not seen since March within a week. The panel of expert scientists, chaired by former chief scientific adviser Sir David King, said the government’s failure to fix may have left it with limited options.

No amount of contact tracing will work at the moment. It’s gone too far

Professor Karl Friston

Speaking in advance of Independent SAGE's Friday briefing, Professor Karl Friston of University College London warned: "The window of opportunity for enhanced contact tracing has passed.

"No amount of contact tracing will work at the moment. It’s gone too far."

At current rates of growth, Independent SAGE projects the number of COVID-19 hospital admissions per million people in the North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humber will be at the levels seen in London on March 23 within a week.

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has been told he must act now (Image: GETTY)

Professor Karl Friston

Independent SAGE's Professor Karl Friston (Image: Independent SAGE)

Northern Ireland has emerged as another transmission hotspot, with weekly confirmed cases tripling over the last two weeks.

The highest infection rates continue to be seen in younger people, with COVID-19 spreading most rapidly in those aged 16-24.

The Government is widely believed to be planning tighter restrictions next week - but Independent SAGE says Mr Johnson cannot wait.

READ MORE: Ireland warned it has 'more to lose than ANY other country'

Nadhim Zahawi

Business minister Nadhim Zahawi (Image: Sky News)

They also urge him to combine any new measures with a financial support package for individuals and businesses and a clear “exit strategy”.

The advisory group has also renewed its calls for an urgent review of the Test, Trace, Isolate, Support system and recommended that Test & Trace be brought into an integrated public health system.

Dr Tolullah Oni,   an urban epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, said: "We need a clear exit strategy from tighter restrictions, with clarity on key settings such as higher education and hospitality and a focus on proactive community engagement."

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Chris Whitty

Chris Whitty, the Government's Chief Medical Officer (Image: GETTY)

The recommendations come on the day business minister Nadhim Zahawi said evidence presented to MPs by England's chief medical officer showed 30 percent of coronavirus infections were coming through hospitality.

He told BBC Breakfast: "The evidence that Chris Whitty shared with my colleagues, northern MPs yesterday, does demonstrate that between restaurants, bars and cafes about 30 percent of the infections are coming through that hospitality, social interactions, if I can describe it as such.

"And it is only right that we take action with the local leadership, with public health local teams, because they know their area best."

Coronavirus case in the UK

Coronavirus case in the UK as of yesterday (Image: Express)

The UK’s daily coronavirus case count increased by a quarter in the space of 24 hours yesterday, reaching 17,540.

Government figures suggested there were also 500 hospital admissions yesterday.

Independent SAGE is a group of scientists who are working together to provide independent scientific advice to the UK government and public on how to minimise deaths and support Britain’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Sir David King, the former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK government, chairs the group and oversees its reports.

Government coronavirus leaks are ‘corrosive’ says Zahawi

Independent SAGE is calling for:

  • a return to 2m social distancing guidelines
  • suspension of indoor service in pubs and restaurants
  • a switch to online teaching in universities
  • Test & Trace to be brought into an integrated public health system
  • a ban on households mixing
  • Resumption of government daily press briefings
  • Schools must only be closed as a 'last measure'
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