A sad milestone has been reached today as the number of reported deaths from Covid-19 in the UK reaches 40,000.
The figure is double the number – 20,000 - described by Government health advisers back in March as a ’good outcome’ given what was then known about the outbreak.
The UK has the second-highest number of actual deaths of countries in the world and the third highest rate per head of population.
Questions have been raised throughout the lockdown period about whether the Government’s initial response was too slow, and whether, as the weeks progressed, the measures taken were the right ones for the circumstances.
The tests set out as prerequisites for the return of pupils to school this week were: making sure the NHS could cope; a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate; the rate of infections being at a manageable level; ensuring the supply of tests and PPE can meet future demand; and being confident there is not a risk of a second wave that would overwhelm the NHS. Several of these criteria will also be impacted by the success of the new test and trace system.