A third wave of coronavirus could potentially hit the UK in July and August, a Government adviser has warned.
The UK is expecting another wave of infections at some point, mostly among the unvaccinated, but some scientists have suggested this will not be until the autumn or winter.
Professor Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said a "very strong" third wave being seen in Europe, including Italy and France, could be the "perfect breeding ground" for highly-contagious variants.
He expects a surge in Covid-19 infections in Britain this summer when restrictions are relaxed and society is unlocked, though he predicted it will mainly affect people who are less susceptible to the virus.
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More than 30 million Britons, many of them older, vulnerable or high risk, have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine so far.
Professor Semple said: “The concern at present is that in countries where there’s less vaccination and a very strong third wave, that’s the perfect breeding ground for further variants of concern.
“So, at this point, Britain has got its act together, the concern is as this third wave is going on elsewhere, that will generate new variations.
“Even within Britain there is a likelihood of a third wave in potentially July and August time, when we do unlock society.
“That third wave we would expect to occur in people that are less susceptible to very severe disease.
“It’s inevitable as we unlock there will be an rise in cases, the key here is have we won the race to vaccinate the most vulnerable members of society so we can keep society open this time?”
The expert made the prediction as Britain on Tuesday marked the anniversary of the first national lockdown.
With the official death toll passing 126,172, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned a third wave of Covid-19 cases being seen in France and Italy could “wash up on our shores as well”.
He offered his “sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones” as the nation prepared for a minute’s silence at midday.
People are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps with phones, candles and torches to signify a “beacon of remembrance” at 8pm.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it had been “probably the hardest year in a generation” as he reflected on 12 months since the first coronavirus lockdown was introduced.
He told BBC Breakfast: “I think the last year has been probably the hardest year in a generation. This crisis has touched everybody.
"My first thoughts go to those who’ve lost loved ones. The impact of that is permanent, I know that from my family.
“And, obviously, it’s vital that we are constantly learning and constantly looking at the evidence, listening to scientific advisers, listening to all of the advice and looking at what has happened and how we can improve the response throughout that.”
He said he was at home when he heard of the first death, adding: “I remember sitting down and you know it really hit me.”
He added: “That was the first death and there have been many more since then, and it’s touched many, many families in this terrible way, and it’s just made me more determined to get us out of this.
“You can see now that the number of people going to hospital, thankfully, is really falling sharply and the number of people who are dying … these can just be statistics but they really mean something. It’s very good news because fewer families are having to go through what so many families have been through.”
