A coronavirus 'epidemic in the young' has been identified as new data indicates there are ten times more cases in under-40s than over-60s.
King’s College London ZOE COVID Symptom Study app suggests there are now 4,608 new symptomatic cases a day.
It comes on the day it was confirmed that half of all UK adults have now had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
Government scientists will reportedly become seriously worried about an exponential rise in infections if official confirmed cases pass 5,000 a day.
Prof Tim Spector, one of Britain’s leading scientists monitoring coronavirus, has U-turned and is now calling for some restrictions to remain in place after June 21.
The ZOE study leader has previously been one of the most optimistic voices in favour of a return to normality.
Prof Spector OBE said: “The data highlights that the increase is happening in the younger age groups, suggesting the start of an epidemic in the young.
“We can’t be too complacent, and we are monitoring things closely.
“The ending of lockdown is on everyone’s minds and given the current situation, I believe we should continue to soften restrictions but not lift them all just yet.
“While unlikely, it’s too early to tell if these increases are going to have any impact on hospital admissions or death rate.
“The government said it would use data, not dates to make key decisions.
“It’s sensible to continue measures like working from home as transmission rates are very high in offices, not to mention the impact of increased use of public transport.
“I’d also recommend we keep wearing masks on public transport and reduce overcrowding indoors."
The ZOE COVID Symptom Study app has been downloaded by 4.6 million Brits and is the largest coronavirus community monitoring project in the world.
Around 1.5 million regularly report their health status including any test results and vaccinations.
At the end of April it estimated daily new symptomatic cases had dropped to just 1,000 a day.
Back then Prof Spector called on older people to “get out a socialise”, telling the Mirror: "We’re just not being honest in that for people who are double vaccinated the risks are tiny.
"A lot of people are still being terrified by Government messages and may never go back to normal.”
As recently as Tuesday he said the Indian variant was focused in certain areas and was “not taking hold more widely”.
The vaccine milestone comes a day after the Government announced that three-quarters of adults had received their first dose.
A total of 26,422,303 second doses have now been delivered since the vaccination rollout began almost six months ago.
This is the equivalent of 50.2% of all people aged 18 and over. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted: “Another important milestone today.Thank you to a brilliant team. We keep going.”
