Relaxing tier restrictions could trigger a third wave of coronavirus this winter - and potentially hit the UK’s hopes for a return to normal by the summer, experts have warned.
NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, urged Boris Johnson to use "extreme caution" in moving any area of England to a lower tier when the measures are reviewed on Wednesday.
Chief executive Chris Hopson said: "We're about to hit our busiest time of year so people are really worried that if we relax the restrictions now the NHS simply won't be able to cope with all of the work that it needs to do in late December, January and February."
Meanwhile the Oxford vaccine’s lead scientist, Professor Sarah Gilbert, has warned that a Christmas-related surge in infections could delay the vaccination programme and have a “big impact” on the UK’s return to normal by the summer.
Elsewhere, Germany has confirmed a new lockdown will start from Wednesday, Italy now has Europe’s highest death toll after overtaking the UK last night, and the US is taking deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine ahead of the rollout on Monday.
