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The UK has become the first country in Europe to record more than 100,000 coronavirus-related deaths, according to official figures from the Department of Health.
The UK has the fifth-highest death toll in the world – after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico – and reported 1,631 more deaths and 20,089 new cases on Tuesday, with critics accusing the government of a seemingly slow initial reaction to the COVID-19 crisis.
The 100,162 recorded deaths represent more than the number of civilian deaths in the country during World War II and double the death toll in the 1940-1941 flash bombing campaign, although the total population was then smaller.
“I am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost and of course as Prime Minister I take full responsibility for everything the government has done,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
“What I can tell you is that we have really done everything we can and we continue to do everything we can to minimize loss of life and minimize suffering,” he said. added during a briefing.
Andrew Simmons of Al Jazeera, reporting from Bradford, said Johnson’s comments were unlikely to “calm those who feel it was too late every step of the way; he was behind the curve ”.
Earlier this month, Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious medical journals, told Al Jazeera that the UK was struggling to contain the pandemic because his government “has steadfastly refused to follow science, despite claims that it does.”
“The lessons learned from science have been that when there is an increase in infections, you must immediately address transmission to reduce the prevalence of infection in the community. But at every step, the government delayed and delayed and delayed the lockdown, with the result that the virus got out of hand, ”Horton said.
“The result is an increase in hospitalizations and deaths. It would have been completely avoidable if the government had acted more decisively, and sooner.
Opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer, who has repeatedly accused Johnson of being too slow to respond to the pandemic, said the Prime Minister’s indecision has cost lives and worsened the economic effects.
Johnson, who contracted COVID-19 himself and ended up in intensive care, defended his case, saying it was easy to find fault when looking back.
England, by far the most populous of the UK’s four countries, reinstated a nationwide lockdown on January 5, which includes the closure of pubs, restaurants, non-essential shops and schools for most students. Other travel restrictions have been introduced as the government fights to speed up vaccination administration and keep new, more transmissible variants of the virus at bay.
In December, the UK became the first country in the world to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and made it a mission to provide vaccines to everyone aged 70 and over, to those who are clinically vulnerable, frontline and older health and social service workers. adults in retirement homes in mid-February.
As of Monday, a total of 6,853,327 people had received a first dose and 472,446 a second dose.
The government has said vaccination rate and vaccination success are key to being able to ease restrictions as the UK battles the highest number of deaths per 100,000 people globally, according to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University.
“Unfortunately, we are going to see a lot more deaths in the next few weeks before the effects of the vaccines start to kick in,” said Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for the UK.
New variants have also alarmed scientists, and Johnson warned that the prospect of an “anti-vaccine” variant could mean lockdown measures are needed longer.
The UK is to announce whether it will also institute a mandatory quarantine in hotels for some or all arrivals and has warned the public not to book a summer holiday.
“My thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one – behind these heartbreaking numbers are friends, families and neighbors,” Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock said Tuesday.
“I know how difficult the last year has been, but I also know how strong the determination of the British public is and how much we have all come together to overcome this.
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