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The United Kingdom faced another tough day in the fight against COVID-19 today, registering 847 new deaths that brought the total to more than 14,500 , while experts warn that it could be the European country most affected by the pandemic.

Although the number of deaths recorded today, which only includes those who died in hospitals , is slightly lower than the record number of 861 recorded this Thursday, analysts believe that the upward trend that puts the country at the peak of the pandemic persists .

Given this increase, the British Government announced yesterday that the mandatory containment measures will be extended for at least three more weeks, since relaxing them could cause a second peak and a significant increase in the number of deaths.

UNITED KINGDOM, THE MOST AFFECTED IN EUROPE

The goal is to curb the ravages of the coronavirus, which could make the United Kingdom the European nation worst hit by the pandemic, producing 40,000 deaths, said Anthony Costello, a professor at University College London, today.

" This wave could cause 40,000 deaths . To suppress the chain of transmission, we hope that confinement and social distancing are generating a great repression of the epidemic. But we will face more waves," said the expert during an appearance before the health committee. which assesses the government's response to the outbreak.

According to Costello, the United Kingdom could suffer up to nine more waves after confinement measures are relaxed , so he stressed that it is a priority to arm himself with more tests and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

He added that the "harsh reality" is that it took "several things" to do , which may have led the UK to have "probably the highest death rate in Europe."

It is likely that this first wave of coronavirus will spread to only 10-15% of the population , said Costello, who estimated that it will take "another five or six waves before reaching 60% infected."

This percentage would be the one that would allow the population of the United Kingdom - made up of some 66 million inhabitants - to achieve what is known as "group immunity", that is, after about 40 million became infected, citizens would have resistance to the virus , which would hinder its spread. The latest figures put at 108,692 people infected.

CRITICISMS OF LACK OF TEST AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

The Guardian newspaper revealed today that hospitals in England are preparing to ask their toilets to work without waterproof surgical gowns , recommended for treating coronavirus sufferers, as their supplies will run out in the next few hours.

Given the intense criticism that the Executive is receiving, the Minister of Health, Matt Hancock, today encouraged companies to offer to manufacture PPE , since "high demand worldwide" makes it difficult to obtain the necessary resources.

The cabinet headed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who continues in his residence on the outskirts of London, away from government activity to recover from the effects of COVID-19, also indicated that "he continues to work" to achieve the goal of achieving 100,000 daily tests by the end of the month, while the current capacity is 38,000 per day .

DEVELOPMENT OF A VACCINE

British Business Minister Alok Sharma said today that the Government has created a committee, made up of experts from academia and business, to develop "as soon as possible" a vaccine against COVID-19 and boost its mass production.

He specified that this body will be responsible for "all stages of development" of the vaccine, which may take "several months" and for which "there are no guarantees" , only the government's duty to "support" the scientific community in this effort.

Sharma pointed out that, due to the extension of the confinement, the economic support program for companies that decide to carry out temporary employment regulation files will also be extended one month more than expected, until the end of June .

The Executive is committed to covering 80% of workers' monthly wages up to a maximum of 2,500 pounds per month (about 2,800 euros).

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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