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Infection rates, hospitalisations and vaccinations – these are the targets that will shape the Prime Minister's roadmap out of lockdown on Feb 22.Here’s how the UK currently measures up to those targets…
Infection rate
Ministers will want to get infection rates as low as possible before starting to open things up. High infection rates mean hospitalisations and deaths, a heightened risk of new mutations and the very real possibility of a fourth wave.
Ministers will want to get infection rates as low as possible before starting to open things up. High infection rates mean hospitalisations and deaths, a heightened risk of new mutations and the very real possibility of a fourth wave.
R rate
Expect the chief medical officer to push for a target R-value of no less than 0.4-0.7 in order for ministers to be sure the epidemic will keep falling.
(The R rate currently sits at between 0.7-0.9 for England).
Expect the chief medical officer to push for a target R-value of no less than 0.4-0.7 in order for ministers to be sure the epidemic will keep falling.
(The R rate currently sits at between 0.7-0.9 for England).
Total patients in hospital
Hospital capacity – or a lack of it – is what ultimately drives lockdown. No government can allow its health system to be overwhelmed.
Hospital capacity – or a lack of it – is what ultimately drives lockdown. No government can allow its health system to be overwhelmed.
Patients on ventilators
Ministers are likely to set capacity targets for both general hospital beds and ICU beds. They will probably want them back to last September’s levels before reopening to give room for any future surge.
Ministers are likely to set capacity targets for both general hospital beds and ICU beds. They will probably want them back to last September’s levels before reopening to give room for any future surge.
