LONDON — The National Health Service in the United Kingdom registered the highest new coronavirus infections since early February on Saturday, as part of a “grab a jab” campaign to boost vaccination rates.
After hovering around the 2,000 level for several weeks, daily cases have climbed dramatically in recent weeks. The delta variation, which was originally found in India and is thought to be 40 percent to 80 percent more transmissible than the previous dominant strain by government experts, accounts for virtually all new cases in the United Kingdom.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said, “This is a wonderful success, and it’s terrific to see so many young people come forward for their shots, doing their part to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Because of the fast distribution of vaccinations, it is hoped that the relationship between illnesses and those who require hospitalization and thereafter die would be severed. As of Saturday, over two-thirds of the population in the United Kingdom had gotten at least one vaccination shot, with 48% having received two.
Though the number of patients in hospitals and deaths has increased in recent weeks, it has not increased at the same rate as infections. The authorities announced on Saturday that another 227 individuals had been admitted to hospitals, bringing the total to 1,505, much below the 40,000 people admitted earlier this year during the peak of a second wave. Virus-related fatalities remained low at 23, bringing the overall number of deaths to 128,089.
Thousands of anti-lockdown protestors marched through downtown London on Saturday, raising concerns about vaccinations. Some reportedly hurled tennis balls into Downing Street, the home and office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Some chanted, “Shame on you!”
A video of the hug was also published late Friday by the Sun tabloid, prompting the major opposition Labour Party to call his position “hopelessly unsustainable.” Some Conservative legislators have also called for Hancock’s resignation, claiming that he wasn’t following his own advice throughout the epidemic.