Two more stories in conjunction with the previous earlier article...
The UK government has had sufficient time and warning to be prepared for
THE second wave, no excuses.
Coronavirus: UK must prepare for second virus wave - health leaders.Health leaders are calling for an urgent review to determine whether the UK is properly prepared for the "real risk" of a second wave of coronavirus.
In an open letter published in the British Medical Journal, ministers were warned that urgent action would be needed to prevent further loss of life.
The presidents of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons, Nursing, Physicians, and GPs all signed the letter.
Following the announcement, health leaders called for a "rapid and forward-looking assessment" of how prepared the UK would be for a new outbreak.
"While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk," they wrote.
"Many elements of the infrastructure needed to contain the virus are beginning to be put in place, but substantial challenges remain."
The authors of the letter, also signed by the chair of the British Medical Association, urged ministers to set up a cross-party group with a "constructive, non-partisan, four nations approach", tasked with developing recommendations.
"The review should not be about looking back or attributing blame," they said, and instead should focus on "areas of weakness where action is needed urgently to prevent further loss of life and restore the economy as fully and as quickly as possible".
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53159918Coronavirus: Community oxygen tests 'key to second wave'.Oxygen levels in suspected coronavirus cases should be monitored in the community to help hospitals cope with a second wave of cases, according to Wales' leading respiratory doctor.
Dr Simon Barry said early on in the pandemic it became clear reduced oxygen levels in the blood suggested a patient had Covid-19.
But flu and pneumonia will be more common in a future winter peak.
This means more community monitoring would be needed, he said.
Dr Barry is leading the implementation of Welsh guidelines to treat the virus, and said work was under way to conduct specific tests before coronavirus patients were admitted to hospital in future.
Most people with coronavirus only have mild symptoms, and sometimes none at all.
But doctors report low blood oxygen saturation levels among those who are admitted to hospital with coronavirus.
Healthy adults usually have saturation levels of between 94% and 99%, whereas those with Covid-19 can fall below 90% and require oxygen therapy and, in some cases, ventilation in intensive care.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53136289