SECOND SPIKE
Matt Hancock denies ‘hysteria’ as he insists 2nd wave IS rolling across Europe
MATT Hancock has denied the Government is pushing "hysteria" and insisted a second wave of coronavirus is rolling across Europe.
The under-fire Health Secretary this morning expressed concerns over the number of cases in not just Europe but across the globe, and doubled down on warnings that everyone must continue to be cautious.
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He was quickly blasted for scaremongering about a second Covid wave.
Senior MPs accused him of acting like the “Grim Reaper” and warned his terrifying rhetoric will leave Brits too spooked to leave their homes.
They urged him to to use a “stiletto not a sledgehammer” to tackle fresh Covid outbreaks.
Appearing on Sky News, Mr Hancock vowed to do whatever it takes to stop the virus peaking again in Britain.
He said: "I am worried about a second wave. You can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe.
"We have to do everything we can to prevent it from reaching these shores.
"It’s not just Spain, there are other countries too where the number of cases is rising, and we are absolutely determined to do all we can to keep this country safe."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also warned of a second coronavirus wave emerging in Europe as a 14-day quarantine for travellers returning from Spain was introduced to stop the spread of the bug.
He said: "Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe. Among some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic."
But experts warned him not to overreact and force the country back into another lockdown.
It comes as:
- England was revealed to have the highest excess death rate in Europe after new figures were revealed
- It was announced that Brits with coronavirus symptoms will be forced to self-isolate for ten days instead of seven to halt an infection surge
- Half of Spain's coronavirus victims are showing no symptoms and spreading it without knowing, a new study showed
- Brits will be warned not to travel to Belgium and Luxembourg by the end of the week – throwing face-to-face Brexit talks in doubt
Mr Hancock later erupted with fury on BBC Radio 4's Today programme after the host Nick Robinson suggested calling it a second wave was "hysterical".
He said: "I'm the Health Secretary in the middle of a global pandemic.
"So you'll excuse me for being concerned about the health of the British people.
"That is absolutely at the front of my mind.
"So yes, you can see the increase in cases, you can see the sharp increase that we saw in Spain and hence we took the rapid action that we did."
Furious MPs blasted his “loose language” and said he was wildly over-egging the danger.
Senior Labour MP Chris Bryant stormed: “It makes me so angry that the government are so loose with their language. There isn’t a second wave rolling out across Europe.
"There are worrying signs of individual spikes of increased infection in some areas. We need a stiletto not a sledgehammer to tackle this."
New NHS figures today revealed just 12 people died from coronavirus in England.
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “We have gone barking mad over Covid.
“We have ministers acting like the Grim Reaper. We need a balanced message.”
Gloom-laden messages about a second wave will put Brits off heading back to work and getting the economy moving again, Mr Duncan Smith warned.
Ministers have become so “petrified” of Covid they risk sparking an “economic Armageddon”, he added.
SICK MAN OF EUROPE
England had the highest number of excess deaths in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures released today have shown.
Although Spain had the biggest spike in excess mortality - deaths from all causes, not just coronavirus, above the five year average - England has had the longest continuous period with more deaths than usual.
An interactive map by the Office for National Statistics shows the number of excess deaths across Europe and enables users to search by their local area.
In the UK, Birmingham recorded the highest peak of any major British city with an excess mortality rate of 249.7 per cent. It was then followed by London and Manchester.
The news came after a 14-day quarantine for travellers returning from Spain was introduced on Saturday, and more countries could soon be included.
Eleven countries where "air bridges" exist with the UK have had a recent spike in cases, including Belgium, Luxembourg and Croatia.
Brits are still able to travel to Luxembourg despite the country having the highest rate of coronavirus cases in Europe, almost 15 times higher per capita than Britain.
However, Brits will be warned not to travel to Belgium and Luxembourg by the end of the week – throwing face-to-face Brexit talks in doubt.
Belgium and Luxembourg will be chucked off the ‘air bridge’ list when the government review of the policy takes place on Friday.
Belgium’s cases have shot up recently with 29.3 cases per 100,000, while Luxembourg’s infection numbers are at a huge 214.9 per 100,000.
The UK’s rate is now at 14 per 100,000.
Belgium’s removal from the list throws the next round of Brexit talks, which are due to take place in Brussels in three weeks on August 17.
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Tourists and the travel industry are in chaos after the surprise decision on Saturday night to change Foreign Office advice to advise people to stay away from Spain.
Brits are now advised against all but essential travel to the country - with the Spanish islands now included too.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has insisted people can continue to book holidays but "need to be aware of the risk that quarantine could be imposed".
"But as long as people are aware of that risk they should continue to book holidays, but just bear in mind that this may happen, and sadly it has happened in Spain," he told BBC Breakfast.
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