UK ‘could see 50,000 more virus deaths’

THE UK could see a further 50,000 deaths from the virus, a top scientific adviser has warned. Professor Calum Semple, who sits on the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), predicted there could be another 50,000 deaths from coronavirus and warned that every Covid-19 fatality “represents probably four or five people who survive but are damaged” by the disease. On Tuesday, Boris Johnson insisted he took “full responsibility” for the response to the pandemic as the Government’s figure for coronavirus deaths passed 100,000 Data, published by statistics agencies place the toll at 115,000. Meanwhile a new survey suggested one in eight Britons have lost a close friend or family member to Covid-19. Polling from YouGov found 8% of people had lost a close friend, while 5% reported they had lost a family member. More than a quarter (27%) knew someone who had become seriously ill from Covid19, with 2% saying they themselves had been very unwell. More than half (57%) said they knew someone who had tested positive. The survey was taken of 2,029 people between December 31 and January 11.