The number of deaths from coronavirus could reach 100,000 in the UK if the nationwide lockdown is lifted too soon, Professor Neil Ferguson warned yesterday.
The Imperial College epidemiologist said it was impossible to send the young and healthy back to work while keeping vulnerable in lockdown without seeing a huge increase in deaths.
His grave warning came as new data from Seattle’s Washington university predicted the number of British coronavirus cases could triple by the start of August.
Professor Ferguson said some degree of social isolation will continue to be required until a vaccine to the killer bug is released.
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Responding to whether distancing rules could be relaxed earlier for less vulnerable workers, Professor Ferguson said this would result in more than 100,000 deaths by the end of the year.
He told UnHerd: ‘In practical terms, you would require a very high level of effective shielding for that to be a viable strategy.
‘If you just achieve 80 percent shielding – and 80 percent reduction in infection risk in those groups – we still project that you would get more than 100,000 deaths this year from that kind of strategy.
‘The most vulnerable people are also the people who most need care and most need interaction with the health system and are least able to be truly isolated.’
