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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Kate Ng

Coronavirus news – live: Scotland lays out lockdown exit as Boris Johnson says deaths will rise

Photograph: AFP via Getty Images
Lockdown easing will ‘inevitably’ lead to rise in Covid deaths, Boris Johnson warns

Nicola Sturgeon has today announced that the current advice to ‘stay local’ will be lifted in Scotland from Friday.

The first minister said a reduction in prevalence of Covid-19 meant some acceleration of planned lockdown easing was possible.

It comes as the prime minister has warned that hospitalisations and deaths will rise “inevitably” as the lockdown is lifted.

Boris Johnson told reporters on Tuesday: “The bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown.

“So, as we unlock the result will inevitably be that we will see more infections and sadly we will see more hospitalisations and deaths and people have just got to understand that.”

His comments come as people aged over 45 in the UK are now invited book an appointment to get their coronavirus vaccine.

The government confirmed it reached its target of offering all over-50s and people who are extremely clinically vulnerable a jab, two days ahead of schedule.

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