Expert warns of tough times, but hope ahead

Christmas will be “tough” this year and is unlikely to be a traditional family celebration if coronavirus infec tions continue to increase, an expert warned.

Professor Jeremy Farrar, of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said the UK faces a “very, very difficult” period in the next three to six months.

But the Wellcome Trust director said there is “light at the end of the tunnel” as he believes a Covid- 19 vaccine and effective treatment will be ready in the first quarter of 2021.

Prof Farrar told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday a circuit- breaker national lockdown is needed, claiming there could currently be 50,000 coronavirus cases per day across the UK.

He added: “Christmas will be tough this year. I don’t think it’s going to be the usual celebration it is and all families coming together, I’m afraid.”

In regard to a potential vaccine and effective treatments, Prof Farrar said he believes they are “three to six months away”.

Meanwhile, Dr Alison Pittard, dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine in London, later told the programme that doctors’ evolving understanding of the virus has dramatically upped the survival rate.

She said doctors’ haste to mechanically ventilate patients at the start of the pandemic might h av e contributed to the higher rate of death in spring compared to now. At the start of the pandemic 66% of people in hospital with coronavirus survived, compared to 84% in August.