Christmas will be “tough” this year and not the “usual celebration” it traditionally is, Sage member Professor Jeremy Farrar has said.
He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday that he did not believe a coronavirus vaccine would be ready for the festive period.
Prof Farrar said: “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.
“I think we have to be honest and realistic and say that we are in for three to six months of a very difficult period.
“The temperatures drop, we are all indoors more often, we have the other infections that come this time of year. It’s much better for us to be upfront and honest now.”
However, Prof Farrar believed Covid-19 vaccines and working treatments were “three to six months away”.
The Wellcome Trust director said: “I do believe the vaccines will be available in the first quarter of next year, I do believe that monoclonal antibodies to treat patients and save lives will be available in the coming months.
“It’s with that context that I think we need to reduce transmission now and we need to get ourselves back to the beginning of September as a country, not in piecemeal, not in fragments across the country, but as a whole country.”
