UK faces calls for ‘Plan B’ with virus cases high and rising

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Many scientists are pressing the British government to reimpose social restrictions and speed up booster vaccinations as coronavirus infection rates that are Europe’s highest rise still further. The U.K. recorded 43,738 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, slightly down from the number reported Monday, which was the largest number since mid-July. New infections averaged more than 44,000 a day over the past week, a 16% increase compared to the week before. Last week the Office for National Statistics estimated that 1 in 60 people in England had the virus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government lifted all restrictions on business and social life in July. Many scientists are now urging the government to reconsider and to speed up a vaccination booster program.