Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned COVID-19 is likely to become a "seasonal virus" as he said the UK will only benefit from indirect protection, the so-called herd immunity, from the coronavirus if 60 percent of the population becomes infected.
Asked how many Britons will need to get coronavirus before herd immunity comes into play, Sir Patrick said: "Probably about 60 percent or so.
Related articles "60 percent is the sort of figure you need to get herd immunity.
"We think this virus is likely to be one that comes back year on year, become like a seasonal virus."
Sir Patrick added: "Communities will become immune to it and that’s going to be an important part of controlling this longer term.
"One aim of the Government strategy is to reduce transmission, make sure we end up with a broader epidemic, not a very sharp one that overloads the system.
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Patrick Vallance said 60 percent of Britons must get the virus for herd immunity to kick in (Image: SKY NEWS) "The second is, of course, protect the elderly and the vulnerable to make sure, during that peak, they are protected."
Herd immunity is where the spread of a contagious disease is stopped due to a high proportion of individuals, but not necessarily all, becoming immune to the disease.
Following the rise in coronavirus cases across the UK, Boris Johnson on Thursday confirmed the Government is moving on to the second phase of their COVID-19 battle plan – delay.
The Prime Minister urged anyone with a persistent cough or high temperature to remain in self-isolation for at least seven days to help contain the spread.
Mr Johnson confirmed schools and universities will remain open for the time being but ordered all school trips abroad be cancelled.
Coronavirus: Question Time audience member on school closures Coronavirus contagion rates at the beginning of the pandemic (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK) Following the rise in coronavirus cases across the UK, Boris Johnson on Thursday confirmed the Government is moving on to the second phase of their COVID-19 battle plan – delay.
The Prime Minister urged anyone with a persistent cough or high temperature to remain in self-isolation for at least seven days to help contain the spread.
Entire households where just one person has symptoms could later be asked to go into quarantine as the outbreak spreads in the coming weeks.
And in a chilling prediction of a fast-growing mortality rate, the Prime Minister said: “I must level with you, level with the British public – many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.” DON'T MISS: Related articles Coronavirus cases jumped to 590 according to Thursday's records (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK) Trending The Prime Minister confirmed that the Government effort to contain the virus had now concluded and Whitehall was switching efforts to drastic measures to delay the peak of infections until the early summer to minimise the impact on the NHS.
Official figures confirmed yesterday that 596 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK with 10 people dead.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s clear that coronavirus, COVID-19, continues and will continue to spread across the world and our country over the next few months.
We’ve done what can be done to contain this disease and this has bought us valuable time.
But it is now a global pandemic.
“And the number of cases will rise sharply and indeed the true number of cases is higher – perhaps much higher – than the number of cases we have so far confirmed with tests.
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