Celebrity health expert Dr Hilary Jones has started Good Morning Britain viewers' week with a surprising remark about coronavirus.
Speaking on GMB today (Monday, July 26), the show's regular medical professional Dr Hilary discussed the latest case numbers.
Viewers of the ITV programme watched as host Susanna Reid asked for his opinion, Birmingham Live reports.
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She asked: "Are you as encouraged as us by the fact that - for the fifth consecutive day - Covid infection rates have actually gone down?"
Much to viewers' surprise after the concerns of late about surging case numbers, his response was largely positive.
Dr Hilary replied: "Five consecutive days they've gone down... that is really encouraging. I'd just like to add that we're not sure how many tests have been done.
"But it's very encouraging, it shows the vaccine programme is working.
"Hospitalisations and deaths, however, are on the rise - they always lag behind case numbers. But we are 30,000 [cases] a day now down from 50,000 a day when restrictions were eased.
"I think the next week or two is going to be really critical to see what actually happens."
In response, one viewer tweeted: "How refreshing from Hilary."
Another added: "That almost killed him .. thought he was actually going to cry while saying things were improving at one point."
"Hope it lasts … all people will hear is tide is going out and the wave is over without hearing everything else," added a third.
One person tweeted: "Was that a bit of positive news @DrHilaryJones I bet that was hard to say.
"More young ones need to be vaccinated then hospitalisation will go down. Vaccine is the key."
However, Dr Hilary did share a word of caution during the same conversation.
He said statistics for hospitalisation and deaths will not yet account for the lifting of lockdown last week, when places like nightclubs were allowed to reopen following so-called 'Freedom Day'.
He added: "What worries some doctors is that we're seeing a lot more severe cases in younger people.
"These are the un-vaccinated people. So it is really imperative that more young people come forward and get not just their first jab, but their second jab [too]."
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