Under pressure: British PM promises exit strategy plan next week

(Patria) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he will present an exit strategy for the United Kingdom next week, as concern grows over the catastrophic effect the coronavirus epidemic has had on British society and the economy.

At his first briefing since falling ill more than a month ago, Johnson stated that the epidemic has 'passed its peak' and is on a 'downward trajectory'.

He said that in the last 24 hours, another 674 people have died in hospitals, care homes and other similar institutions, bringing the total to 26,711, the third highest death toll in the world and the second in Europe.

Since the start of the epidemic, the British government has faced criticism over insufficient testing of the population, a lack of protective equipment for medical staff, and the late introduction of restrictive measures.

Johnson claims that the number of daily tests increased to 81,611 on Wednesday, which is still less than the 100,000 daily tests that Johnson's deputy Dominic Raab promised while the prime minister was in hospital, himself struck down by the coronavirus.

Opposition Labour Party has confirmed that a public inquiry will be conducted into the government's response to the epidemic in the United Kingdom.

The Conservative government is expected to provide a clearer exit strategy regarding the reactivation of the economy and social life.

Johnson promised that the plan would be guided by science and that, among other things, the goal is to achieve 'maximum political consensus' and base the plan on the following criteria:

- Ensure that the NHS (health service) is protected and able to cope with the epidemic

- A sustained fall in the number of deaths

- A sustained fall in the number of new infections

- The NHS must be able to overcome operational and logistical difficulties such as a lack of protective equipment

- And most importantly, the government must be sure that the measures do not risk a second wave of infection that would overwhelm the NHS.

The Prime Minister emphasised that control must not be lost and that one must not hit an 'even bigger obstacle', reports Euronews.