A 'second wave' of coronavirus cases is going to hit the UK, a world health expert has warned today.
David Nabarro was speaking on Sky News this morning (8 September) when he said a second wave, or a surge in new cases, "is coming" for the UK.
2,498 new cases of the virus were reported across the UK on Monday, the largest daily increase for some time.
Addressing the spike or a so-called second wave, Dr Nabarro said: "I’m afraid it's coming.
"I don’t like calling it a second wave, I just say there are going to be more spikes and surges of cases.
"Because the virus hasn’t changed. It’s the same virus that came and caused so much trouble earlier this year.
"It’s just been lurking. We’ve been very good at holding it back.
"But now as life gets going again, as young people go to university and there’s some movement around with holidays and work, I’m afraid it does mean the virus is going to come back."
Nicola Sturgeon issued a similar warning yesterday that with the virus spreading throughout the population it could mean the government is forced to put the "breaks on" further easing of lockdown.
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The new cases have predominantly been amongst young people, but the First Minister warned that the virus would eventually seed into elderly, more vulnerable people.
The UK Government have also raised concern about the number of new cases, with an appeal to young people to follow the guidelines and not risk infecting older relatives.
More than 27.42 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 892,454 have died, according to a tally by Reuters news agency.
