North West overtakes London as Britain’s coronavirus epicentre with more hospital cases than densely-populated capital
THE North West has overtaken London as Britain’s coronavirus epicentre with more hospital cases than the capital.
Concerning figures show covid-19 patients in London have dipped to 2,033 while those in the North West have risen to 2,191.
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‘SWAMPED BY THIS CRISIS’
It is the first time a region’s total has overtaken the capital – although both are lower than their respective peaks.
Liverpool’s mayor Joe Anderson has called for an investigation into whether Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid at Anfield caused a spike in coronavirus cases.
More than 52,000 fans watched the Reds crash out at the last-16 stage including 3,000 Atletico fans – many of whom had flown in from Spain for the March 11 clash.
The decision to press on with the match has been widely criticised and a probe will be led by Liverpool’s public health director Matt Ashton.
The fact Madrid fans were unable to attend matches in their home city but could travel to a game in Liverpool was absurd.
Joe Anderson, mayor of Liverpool
Mr Anderson said: “We want to come to a view as to whether that decision had an impact on the people of this city and I’ve asked Matt to work with the universities to see if the data can give us an indication of that.
“I said at the time the fact Madrid fans were unable to attend matches in their home city but could travel to a game in Liverpool was absurd, but the government and Uefa decided the game should go ahead.”
Mr Anderson also suggested that a difference in lifestyle for communities in the city could leave many “vulnerable”.
He added: “In Liverpool there are high rates of obesity, there is an elderly population, many people have problems with mobility – it will be these people who will be hit hardest by this virus.”
‘FUND COUNCILS ACCORDINGLY’
Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, pointed to funding and called on Boris Johnson to ensure that northern communities get the financial help to deal with the crisis.
He added: “These figures underline the need for a safety-first approach as we move forward.
“It’s becoming clear that the harm caused by the virus has been greatest in the most deprived communities.
The government needs to recognise that and fund councils across the north-west accordingly
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
“The government needs to recognise that and fund councils across the north-west accordingly.”
London remains the area of the UK with the highest number of overall cases at 24,828, while the North West is second with 20,125.
It comes as the UK’s overall death toll from the bug hit 28,446 on Sunday, with 315 more deaths recorded nationwide in the last 24 hours.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
Cabinet minister Michael Gove told Sunday’s daily Downing Street press conference that social distancing measures will continue until a vaccine is found for covid-19.
He said: “Ultimately, unless and until we have a vaccine then I suspect that we are going to have to live with some degree of constraint because of the nature of the virus.
“But we obviously want to, wherever possible, and consistent with the measures on public health, restore people’s lives to as close to normal as possible.”
He said the Government will pursue a “phased approach” to removing lockdown restrictions rather than a sudden return to “the old normal” – and that the easing had to be done in a “cautious fashion”.
NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said it was “really difficult” to know how the virus would play out in the months and years ahead.
He said there was “hope” that a solution – either a vaccine or drugs – would be found sooner than might have been hoped 10 or 20 years ago, though it is “impossible to say when that will be”.
“But it’s certainly true to say that we will need to adapt to a new normal until we get to that point.”
You can find how many people have died from Covid-19 in your area here.
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