UK could see 50,000 coronavirus cases by mid-October if infection rate continues, say government advisors

The UK could see 50,000 cases of coronavirus and 200 deaths every day by mid-October if infections continue to double every seven days the chief scientific advisor has warned.
Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance addressed the nation in a live televised briefingfrom Downing Street this morning amid fears of a second wave.Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance addressed the nation in a live televised briefingfrom Downing Street this morning amid fears of a second wave.
Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance addressed the nation in a live televised briefingfrom Downing Street this morning amid fears of a second wave.

Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, addressed the nation in a live televised briefing from Downing Street this morning amid fears of a second wave.

Prof Whitty warned of 49,000 new coronavirus cases and 200 deaths every day by mid-October unless the second wave is brought under control.

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Both he and Vallance said that the UK is at a “critical point” and "this could move very fast".

New measures to control the virus are likely to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday) when Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to give a press conference.

There have been 31 million confirmed Covid-19 cases worldwide, with more than 960,000 deaths.

They said there are currently 1,081 people in hospital with coronavirus with 18 deaths recorded yesterday.

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Should new cases reach this level, Sir Patrick warned that this would lead to "200-plus deaths a day" by mid-November.

Prof Whitty warned that infection rates are "heading in the wrong direction" - and the country is at a "critical point" in the pandemic.

He also warned the country to brace for a tough winter.

He said: “At this point the seasons are against us, we're now going into the seasons, late autumn and winter, which benefit respiratory viruses, and it is very likely they will benefit Covid, as they do, for example, flu.

“So we should see this as a six-month problem that we have to deal with collectively, it's not indefinite.”

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Prof Whitty added that science would eventually “ride to our rescue” but “in this period of the next six months, I think we have to realise that we have to take this collectively, very seriously”.

Sir Patrick said: “The way that we reduce the spread is by limiting our number of contacts, by reducing contact in environments where spread is more likely – those are crowded environments, indoor environments, poor ventilation – and making sure that we reduce the probability of coming into contact with anyone who is infectious.

“And that's the importance of self-isolation, keeping out of circulation if you have, or may have, the virus.”

Boris Johnson has said he does not want to put the country into a second national lockdown - but he has warned that he may need to "intensify things" to bring the rate of infections down.

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Proposals being looked at could see essential travel to schools and workplaces continuing, but restaurants and bars either being closed or forced to operate on restricted hours,and different households told not to mix.

There has been speculation of such a lockdown taking place around the time of school half-term in October.