- The outbreak is peaking but it’s expected that the numbers of deaths will keep rising
- Lockdown would continue, but the law states that the measures must be reviewed every 21 days.
- 12,868 people in hospitals in Britain have so far died, making it one of the worst affected countries in the global outbreak.
British government was on Thursday expected to extend a nationwide lockdown for another three weeks, the coronavirus outbreak is reaching its peak, but there are warnings of more deaths to come.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who represents Prime Minister Boris Johnson while he recuperates, will meet with key ministers before making the announcement.
The UK government is set to rescind on the stay at home order imposed on March 29th, due to the rising figures of over 13,000 this week.
“It is too early to make a change,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC television on Thursday, ahead of meetings of the cabinet and a special coronavirus committee.
“Whilst we’ve seen a flattening of the number of cases, and thankfully a flattening of the number of deaths, that hasn’t started to come down yet. And as far as I’m concerned that is still far too high.”
He said the vast majority of Britons had followed rules not to go out except for exercise and to buy essential items.
“I don’t want to put all of that good effort to waste,” said Hancock, who himself has also had coronavirus but recovered quickly.
“Because if we just released all the measures then this virus would run rampant once again, and we can’t let that happen.”
He did not say how long the lockdown would continue, but the law states that the measures must be reviewed every 21 days.
England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said on Wednesday that the. Health ministry figures show 12,868 people in hospitals in Britain have so far died, making it one of the worst affected countries in the global outbreak.
