UK: London Mayor Sadiq Khan Declares COVID-19 Surge As 'Major Incident'; One In Every 30 People In City Infected

With worsening COVID-19 situation in the United Kingdom (UK), London's Mayor Sadiq Khan on Friday (8 January) declared that the British capital was witnessing a "major incident" with the "out of control" surge of COVID-19 cases set to overwhelm the National Health Service (NHA), reports Livemint.

A major incident is reportedly defined as being “beyond the scope of business-as-usual operations, and is likely to involve serious harm, damage, disruption or risk to human life or welfare, essential services, the environment or national security”.

With one in every 30 people in London being infected with COVID-19 in the week to 2 January, Khan emphasised that the hospital facilities of London have been pushed to a breaking point with the number of COVID-19 patients surging by 27 per cent in the week to 6 January.

Khan stressed that the threat posed by the virus to London has now reached a crisis point and that not taking immediate actions could result in the deaths of more people.

Khan added, "Londoners continue to make huge sacrifices and I am today imploring them to please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave. Stay at home to protect yourself, your family, friends and other Londoners and to protect our NHS."

It should be noted that the UK is presently under an iteration of nationwide lockdown which came into effect on 6 January as a measure to contain the spread of the new variant of COVID-19 which has been found to be more transmissible.