London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

UK CMO warns of 30,000 further Covid-19 deaths if country reopens too quickly, encourages Brits to learn from surge in Europe

UK CMO warns of 30,000 further Covid-19 deaths if country reopens too quickly, encourages Brits to learn from surge in Europe

Britain’s chief medical officer has warned that things could “turn bad” if the country re-emerges from its lockdown too soon, noting that modelling shows as many as 30,000 more people could succumb to the virus.
“If people think this is all over – I would encourage them to look to continental Europe,” Chris Whitty, chief medical officer (CMO) to the British government, said on Tuesday when asked whether the UK could reopen quicker from its most recent lockdown.

“If we unlock too quickly, we would get a substantial surge whilst a lot of people are not protected… It is very easy to forget how quickly things can turn bad if you don’t keep an eye on what’s going on,” Whitty warned during a televised question and answer session. He added that modelling data suggests there could be a further 30,000 Covid-19 deaths if restrictions are lifted too soon.

The CMO said the vaccination programme had, so far, been very successful but urged caution, noting that the virus will seek out those who haven’t been vaccinated.

Even if 90 percent of people belonging to the at-risk groups get the jab, up to 1 million would still face the risk of contracting the disease, he explained, citing scientific modelling data. Such developments could end up with up to 30,000 new Covid-19-related deaths, he warned.

The people who would be likely to drive transmission are the younger cohort of the population and are thus not likely to be vaccinated by Easter, Whitty explained.

The chief medical officer then expressed his hope that the surge will come no sooner than in later summer or autumn or even winter – but only if “we open up gradually.” Whitty also expressed his opposition to the calls to speed up the government’s “roadmap” aimed at easing Covid-19 restrictions.

“At some point we will get a surge in [the] virus,” he said, adding that “it may happen later in the summer if we open up gradually, or there is the seasonal effect – and it might happen over the autumn and winter.”

The UK’s Covid-19 average infection rate has decreased hugely from a peak of nearly 60,000 cases a day in January to around 6,000 cases a day over the past week.

Deaths have fallen considerably too, with more than 21 million people in the most vulnerable groups already vaccinated. Research from Public Health England, published last week, suggested that one AstraZeneca Covid jab reduces hospitalisation risk from Covid-19 by 80 percent among people aged 80 and over.

England’s plan to release the country from lockdown saw schools reopen on Monday and further relaxation coming at staged intervals until June. Scotland moved earlier than England, contradicting the advice of the UK’s CMO. Infection rates north of the border are now falling more slowly than in England.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×