The United Kingdom, the second country most affected by the new coronavirus in Europe, has "passed the peak" of the epidemic, said Thursday April 30, Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A total of 26,771 people died from coronavirus for 171,253 people infected, according to figures from the Ministry of Health

Boris Johnson compared the situation to the passage of a "huge tunnel of the Alps". "We can now see the daylight and the meadows in front of us," he said. "It is therefore vital that we do not lose control and that we do not rush towards a second and even higher mountain," continued the conservative leader, alluding to a possible upsurge.

Boris Johnson, however, has promised to unveil a "road map" next week explaining how the government plans to revive the economy, reopen schools, and get the British back to work safely. The exact dates of each easing measure will depend on the evolution of the epidemic and the data collected each day.

Containment until May 7

The confinement has so far been extended until May 7, with very serious economic and social consequences, also giving rise to health fears such as a jump in deaths from cancers detected or treated too late.

The roadmap will include measures to make commuting from home to work safer, says Boris Johnson. He suggested wearing tissues on the face as a possible protective tool, a turnaround, the government having so far shown reluctance.

Boris Johnson also thanked the public health service for his recovery from the coronavirus and a "much happier visit to the hospital" on Wednesday for the birth of the baby boy he had with his partner Carrie Symonds.

Government criticized

Before reviving the economy, the British authorities want to observe a clear decline but also to ensure that they have sufficient means of detection, tracing and protection.

"The number of cases is decreasing, this translates into fewer hospitalizations, fewer people in the hospital, fewer people in intensive care and we are starting to see a drop in the number of deaths," said the government's scientific adviser. , Patrick Vallance, at the press conference. According to him, the transmission rate is currently between 0.6 and 0.9, which constitutes a decline.

The government is criticized for having delayed in deciding on confinement and in providing medical gowns and masks in sufficient numbers to caregivers. "We did the right thing at the right time," said Boris Johnson.

However, two in three Britons (66%) think the government has been too slow to enact containment, says an Ipsos Mori poll released Thursday.

With AFP

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR