The UK will go through the "most dangerous time" of the pandemic before the vaccine is rolled out to the population, the public health chief has warned.
Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson's Chief Medical Officer, warned the next few weeks will be “the worst of the pandemic” and that lockdown restrictions could last until spring.
He said the NHS is under threat of being overwhelmed as the UK hits a 'dangerous' peak of infections and urged people to avoid "unnecessary contact”.
Professor Whitty told BBC Breakfast: "We have a very significant problem. The next few weeks are going to be the worst weeks of this pandemic in terms of the numbers into the NHS."
He added: "This is everybody's problem.
"This is the most dangerous time we have really had in terms of numbers into the NHS at this particular time."
It comes as Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has refused to rule out tougher lockdown restrictions as the number of positive Covid-19 cases continues to rise.
John Swinney said that despite current measures, the virus ‘does not show much sign of abating’ meaning further action may be required.
He said that the country is facing ‘a very alarming situation’ after recording its highest death toll so far in the pandemic over the last two days - with 93 dead.
On Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said she could also not rule out stricter measures, after the number of people in hospital in Scotland exceeded the April peak of the pandemic.
