The scientific warnings on Covid-19

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance yesterday set out their growing worry over the spread of coronavirus in the UK.

Here are the key points:

■ Sir Patrick warned there could be 50,000 coronavirus cases a day next month, leading to 200-plus daily deaths, if the rate of the disease’s spread was not tackled.

■ Less than 8 per cent of the UK population are thought to have coronavirus antibodies to fight off infection, making the “vast majority” of people “susceptible” to the deadly virus.

■ Prof Whitty said there were now “significant rates of transmission” of coronavirus in the UK, with the “great majority” of areas facing an increase.

■ He hinted at curbs to social lives being needed to prevent coronavirus spiralling out of control.

■ The UK, said Prof Whitty, must face up to a “six-month problem” as the colder weather arrives, telling the nation: “At this point the seasons are against us.”

■ The rise in Covid-19 cases among young people would “move up the age bands” to older people, who are more at risk of dying of coronavirus symptoms, Prof Whitty warned.

■ Prof Whitty called for a collective effort to subdue the second wave of Covid, saying: “You cannot in an epidemic just take your own risk. Unfortunately you’re taking a risk on behalf of everybody else.”

■ There is a possibility that small amounts of vaccine could be made available to certain groups of people by the end of the year, according to Sir Patrick.

■ Prof Whitty said there was a “very difficult balance” to be struck between preventing the NHS from being “overwhelmed by a huge spike” in cases and a second economic lockdown that could cause unemployment, poverty and deprivation.