Joyce in sombre warning

DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has warned the nation will reopen as planned despite the number of Covid-19 deaths in the process.

Speaking to Radio National on Monday, Mr Joyce told Australians they needed to become accustomed to deaths from Covid-19 in the same way as deaths from the flu.

“As things open up some people will get sick, and very tragically some people will die, but some people die from the flu,” Mr Joyce (pictured) said.

“We don't want that. We want to avoid that, but we can’t stop the nation for it.”

Mr Joyce said Aussies who choose not to get the jab are most likely to be killed by Covid-19 when health restrictions begin to ease.

“If they don’t choose to (get vaccinated) they have to accept that there is a risk with that,” he said.

Mr Joyce predicted the nation would have plenty of vaccine around October.

“The issue then will be whether the remaining group of people want to get vaccinated – not whether they can get vaccinated,” he said.

“If you choose not to – well, that is your choice, but the nation can’t wait for you.”