Covid hospitalisations could reach 7,000 per day in October
Sage scientists warn there is "potential for another large wave of hospitalisations"
Last updated 16th Sep 2021
Scientists warn that hospitalisations could reach 2,000 to 7,000 per day next month as the pandemic progresses.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) expressed concerns over the number of possible winter hospitalisations, after the return of schools and more people going back to their workplaces.
Currently, England sits at an an average of just over 750 Covid-19 admissions per day.
In a report published on Tuesday, Sage scientists added that a "relatively light set of measures", such as mask-wearing or home-working, could curb infections and should be brought in earlier rather than later.
They stressed that high levels of homeworking played an important role in preventing sustained epidemic growth in recent months.
When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Government's winter plan for battling Covid-19 on Tuesday, he said some measures would make a comeback if the NHS faced unsustainable pressure.
The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) also said: "While the relationship between cases and hospitalisations has changed due to vaccination, increasing cases remain the earliest warning sign that hospital admissions are likely to rise."
The government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance echoed the concerns at a Downing Street press briefing on Tuesday but said vaccines are still holding up "very well" against hospital admissions and death.