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Britain's Coronavirus Strategy Sows Confusion

Jamie Dettmer

   LONDON - Britain's chief medical officer briefed lawmakers Thursday
   amid an expected surge in confirmed cases of coronavirus, saying the
   country is moving from a "containment" phase to one focused on
   "delaying" the spread, in a bid to avoid high peaks of infections that
   could overwhelm healthcare services.

   But confusion was prompted later when Downing Street officials briefed
   the media, saying the British government is still focused on
   containment and did not want to move prematurely to implement ramped-up
   measures that would have broad economic and social impact.

   The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, warned that Britain's national
   health service could run out of intensive care beds at the peak of a
   coronavirus outbreak, with half the country's cases expected to occur
   in a three-week period. He told lawmakers there is now a "very slim to
   zero" chance of halting the virus globally and in Britain.

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