Towards a long confinement in the United Kingdom? The country could not resume normal life for six months or more due to the pandemic of new coronavirus, warned British health authorities on Sunday March 29.

According to their deputy chief Jenny Harries, it would be "dangerous" to suddenly lift the confinement to which the population is currently subjected for three weeks, even if it proves effective to slow the progression of the disease, because that could cause a resurgence of the pandemic. She said the measures put in place to contain the disease would be reviewed "every three weeks" for "probably six months" or more.

A gradual return to normal

But "that doesn't mean we will be in total confinement for six months," she said. "We will hopefully be able to gradually adapt certain measures of social distancing and gradually return to normal."

The government decreed a general containment of the population on Monday for at least three weeks, in an attempt to slow the spread of the epidemic which left 1,228 dead and officially contaminated 19,522 people in the United Kingdom, according to a report published on Sunday .

Only essential goods stores are open, and people are only allowed to go out to shop, get treatment or exercise once a day.

According to Jenny Harries, the number of deaths will continue to grow "for a week, possibly two" before these measures begin to take effect.

Among those who died was a 55-year-old doctor, the first primary caregiver in the fight against Covid-19 to die in the UK, according to health services.

Earlier Sunday, the right arm of Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already warned that the British should prepare for "a long period" of crisis.

"Probably until the end of May, maybe even the beginning of June"

"I cannot make a precise prediction but I think that everyone should prepare for a long period during which these measures will remain in place," said Minister Michael Gove on the BBC, without wanting to give a precise date.

"It is crucial for the moment that we comply with the strict guidelines that have been established in the area of ​​social distancing in the coming weeks," he added.

In the Sunday Times, epidemiologist Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London, who advises the government, estimated that containment should remain in place "probably until the end of May, possibly even early June. May is optimistic ".

In a letter to 30 million British households, the Prime Minister warned that the situation would "get worse before improving" and that compliance with the confinement rules would allow a "return to normal" more quickly.

"But we will not hesitate to go further if that is what scientific and medical advice tells us to do," he added.

Boris Johnson himself tested positive for Covid-19 after developing "mild symptoms", but he continues to lead the fight against the coronavirus, according to his services.

Stephan Powis, medical director of the British public health system NHS England, said on Saturday that if the death toll could be kept below 20,000 in the UK, it would be a "good result".

The UK also wants to dramatically increase the rate of screenings and test up to 25,000 people a day in the coming weeks, said Michael Gove. He also criticized China, where the virus appeared, for having lacked clarity in its communications on the "extent, nature, infectivity" of the disease.

With AFP

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