The UK’s Covid-19 alert level has been downgraded

Following the threat of the NHS being overwhelmed receding, the Covid alert level in the UK has been downgraded.

According to the UK’s chief medical officers, the alert level should move from 5 to 4, Sky News reports.

This is because the numbers of patients in hospital are ‘consistently declining and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded’.

Under Level 5, there was ‘a risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed’, while under Level 4 transmission of coronavirus is now ‘high or rising exponentially’ – so there’s still a way to go.

The four UK chief medical officers and NHS England’s national medical director said in a joint statement that they agreed the alert level should be downgraded.

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This follows advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre, but is also ‘in light of the most recent data’.

They added: “The health services across the four nations remain under significant pressure with a high number of patients in hospital, however thanks to the efforts of public we are now seeing numbers consistently declining, and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded.

“We should be under no illusions – transmission rates, hospital pressures and deaths are still very high. In time, the vaccines will have a major impact and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated when they receive the offer.

“However, for the time being, it is really important that we all – vaccinated or not – remain vigilant and continue to follow the guidelines.

“We know how difficult the situation has been and remains to be for healthcare workers, we thank them for their immense effort, skill and professionalism throughout the pandemic.”