UK expects 100,000 cases a day but no new measures for now

Britain’s government has rejected calls to trigger “Plan B” measures to limit spiralling Covid-19 infection rates, even as it warned that cases could reach as many 100,000 a day over the winter months.

LONDON

Healthcare leaders have urged the government to reinstate some restrictions to prevent the close-contact spread of the coronavirus, including the wearing of masks indoors, to ease pressure on hospitals.

But Health Secretary Sajid Javid played down concerns about the stubbornly high figures, which are nudging 50,000 new cases and 1,000 hospital admissions a day.

Mr Javid said winter, during which health services are typically stretched with other seasonal viruses such as influenza, “will pose the greatest threat to our recovery”.