Fourth wave of Covid-19 deaths and infections inevitable says Professor Chris Whitty

Mar 9, 2021

Dear reader

England’s chief medical officer has made a gloomy prediction about Covid-19 infection rates over the coming months.

Professor Chris Whitty, speaking on Tuesday in the Commons Science and Technology Committee, predicted that a fourth wave of the coronavirus was inevitable in the UK as restrictions were eased.

He warned that it was unclear about when such a wave would hit, and whether it would happen in the autumn and winter time.

Modelling considered by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has suggested that even under the most optimistic set of assumptions, at least a further 30,000 Covid-19 deaths could occur.

The warning comes as the Department of Health announced another two Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.

There were also another 240 cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the last 24 hours, while there are now 222 patients with the virus in Northern Ireland hospitals. This is a drop of 32 per cent from a week ago.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

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