“Some people will die, that might have been saved.”

A joint statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) has recommended that the UK COVID-19 alert level should move to level 5.

The four UK CMOs say that they are not confident the NHS can handle a further sustained rise in coronavirus cases.

David Carpenter, a volunteer ethicist, speaks about the strategies in place for the management of the service, after it reaches capacity:

“Patients, sadly, will no longer be seen as individuals, they will just have to be seen as a possible life to be saved.”

Lockdown has been instigated to protect the NHS, with the compliance of the public remaining essential to keep transmission levels down. However, patients continue to be admitted to hospitals with limited resources.