Britain’s Covid death toll is the fifth highest in the world, and the fourth-highest per capita of any major country. So why did so many people die in the world’s fifth-richest country?
Here are 10 reasons…🧵
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/1…
Here are 10 reasons…🧵
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/1…
1⃣ A global hub
Airlines in the UK and Ireland carried more passengers in 2019 than any other country apart from China and the US.
A high number of arrivals means there is a far higher chance of the virus being seeded in the UK before the Government was aware of the danger.
Airlines in the UK and Ireland carried more passengers in 2019 than any other country apart from China and the US.
A high number of arrivals means there is a far higher chance of the virus being seeded in the UK before the Government was aware of the danger.
2⃣ A crowded island
Britain is the third-most crowded major country in Europe, making it the perfect place for a pandemic to spread, with huge international visitor numbers tightly packed together, particularly in London.
Britain is the third-most crowded major country in Europe, making it the perfect place for a pandemic to spread, with huge international visitor numbers tightly packed together, particularly in London.
3⃣ Open borders
Many in Government now acknowledge that Britain left its borders too open for too long in the early stages of the pandemic, unlike countries with tough border policies like New Zealand and Australia.
Many in Government now acknowledge that Britain left its borders too open for too long in the early stages of the pandemic, unlike countries with tough border policies like New Zealand and Australia.
4⃣ Lockdown delays
Those closest to the PM are increasingly acknowledging that the UK should have gone into lockdown earlier.
Some scientists have suggested the death toll in the first wave of the virus could have been halved if lockdown had happened a week earlier.
Those closest to the PM are increasingly acknowledging that the UK should have gone into lockdown earlier.
Some scientists have suggested the death toll in the first wave of the virus could have been halved if lockdown had happened a week earlier.
5⃣ Care homes
Around a quarter of all UK Covid deaths have been in care homes, even though residents account for less than 1% of the population.
Sending hospital patients to care homes without testing them for coronavirus has been blamed for some outbreaks in care homes.
Around a quarter of all UK Covid deaths have been in care homes, even though residents account for less than 1% of the population.
Sending hospital patients to care homes without testing them for coronavirus has been blamed for some outbreaks in care homes.
6⃣ Poor preparation
National pandemic planning had concentrated on influenza being the greatest danger, almost to the exclusion of all else.
David Cameron admitted earlier this month that failure to plan for other illnesses in recent years was a mistake.
National pandemic planning had concentrated on influenza being the greatest danger, almost to the exclusion of all else.
David Cameron admitted earlier this month that failure to plan for other illnesses in recent years was a mistake.
7⃣ An unhealthy population
So-called comorbidities – including obesity – make people far more vulnerable to Covid-19.
Britain has the second-highest levels of obesity in Europe (after Malta) and the worst healthy life expectancy in Europe.
So-called comorbidities – including obesity – make people far more vulnerable to Covid-19.
Britain has the second-highest levels of obesity in Europe (after Malta) and the worst healthy life expectancy in Europe.
8⃣ Pockets of poverty
According to the Office for National Statistics, the most deprived areas of the country have twice the rate of Covid-19 deaths than the most affluent.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the most deprived areas of the country have twice the rate of Covid-19 deaths than the most affluent.
9⃣ Compliance levels
British people stayed at home more than some of their European counterparts during the first lockdown, but people in Italy, France and Spain took lockdowns more seriously, partly because those countries had even stricter lockdown rules than the UK.
British people stayed at home more than some of their European counterparts during the first lockdown, but people in Italy, France and Spain took lockdowns more seriously, partly because those countries had even stricter lockdown rules than the UK.
🔟The Kent mutation
Covid deaths have spiralled since the Kent variant was first detected in September, with more than two thirds of all deaths happening since Oct 1.
Covid deaths have spiralled since the Kent variant was first detected in September, with more than two thirds of all deaths happening since Oct 1.
Read more on the ten reasons why Britain's Covid death toll is the fifth highest in the world👇
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/1…
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/1…
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