England's Chief Medical Officer has given a stark warning over the potential of a "second wave" of coronavirus being way more deadly than the first.
In an online college lecture streamed by the Department of Health and Social Care, Professor Chris Whitty warned that keeping a second wave at bay would be an “extremely difficult balancing act”
The Chief Medical Officer said a second wave would likely be “more severe” and that it is essential that we keep the R number of transmission down below one.
Prof Whitty warned: “We need to make sure that R does not go back above one. Because if not we will go back to a second wave.
“It is entirely plausible for a second wave to actually be more severe than the first if it is not mitigated.
“Every country has got an extremely difficult balancing act, and we all need to be honest about the fact there are no easy solutions here.
“COVID-19 is a very long way from finished and eradication is technically impossible for this disease.”
Professor Chris Whitty also made a reference to the Game of Thrones slogan "winter is coming" when talking about how the virus could pick up momentum again in winter.
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He added: ”There may be a seasonal element to this, we don’t know, it’s too early with this virus.”
“It’s not just in Game Of Thrones that winter is always coming – it is also true in every health service.
“It may be that there’s a seasonal element and if so, for most respiratory viruses, they are more likely to be transmitted, there is a higher likelihood of transmission, in the winter.
“The winter is always worse than summer, spring and autumn for health services, and we need to think about this in terms of how we come out for the next phase.”
