Coronavirus case numbers could reach 100,000 per day in the summer as restrictions are eased, according to Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
Mr Javid appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today this morning to speculate on what will happen with the Covid pandemic as we approach the so-called 'freedom day' on July 19.
Mr Javid said: "As we ease and go into the summer, we expect them to rise significantly and they could go as high as 100,000 case numbers.
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“We want to be very straightforward about this, about what we can expect in terms of case numbers.
“But what matters more than anything is hospitalisation and death numbers, and that is where the link has been severely weakened.”
Boris Johnson announced on Monday that restrictions around social distancing and face masks are set to be lifted on that date.
Experts are divided over whether easing restriction on July 19 is a good idea or not.
Alongside the Prime Minister's announcement that many Covid restrictions will be eased on July 19, he revealed that the government have looked at the statistics and believe it will be safer to ease restrictions in the summer, rather than winter.
Professor Neil Ferguson said the government’s decision to lift most restrictions for England from 19 July was “a slight gamble”
Prof Calum Semple, another government adviser, and a member of Sage told Times radio: "I wouldn’t say this is a gamble, it’s more of a calculated risk.
"We do have good data now that does indicate we are gradually breaking the links in the chain between community cases and severe cases in hospital.
"I should point out, looking at the data last night, 88% of people in hospital, from what I could see, had not been vaccinated or had had the vaccine but hadn’t had the chance to develop immunity, so that’s within 28 days of the vaccine.
"There’s now an incredibly strong signal that the vaccination is working and protecting the vast majority of people."
On July 5, there were 27,100 new cases of Covid-19 infection recorded.
