UK coronavirus outbreak could peak at Easter with millions to infect | United Kingdom | New

The Department of Health announced that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) increased by almost a third to reach 206 at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Over 21,000 people across the country have been tested for coronavirus. On Friday it was confirmed that a man in the early 80s had become the second person to die in the UK after a positive test for the coronavirus.

The man, who had underlying health conditions, died on Thursday while receiving treatment at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

The coronavirus is spreading across the country at its fastest rate to date, and an expert has warned that the epidemic could peak in a matter of weeks, millions are expected to be infected with the deadly virus.

Microbiologist Peter Piot told The Times: "I am often asked if the threat is being over-typed. For me, the answer is no.

"This is the real thing.

"I think we will go to the height of the epidemic around Easter.

"We can safely say that there are already a few thousand infected people in the UK."

Dr Piot warned that even when the coronavirus epidemic reaches its peak in the UK, it could return in November.

"If it drops in April or May, it could come back in November.

READ MORE: Coronavirus UK: Will Schools Close While Coronavirus Cases Increase to 206?

"I don't think a vaccine will have an impact on the current epidemic – it will be too late. But it could become seasonal, we really don't know. "

Comments from the prominent microbiologist come as the government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, warned that the UK was only at the start of an epidemic.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases quadrupled from 51 Tuesday to 206 this morning.

He said: "We have cases across Europe, around the world, this is a global epidemic and we expect to see more cases in the UK.

DO NOT MISS
Type 2 diabetes warning: coronavirus can cause "more severe symptoms" (COMMENT)
Coronavirus Update: Should You Store Vitamin C? (ADVICE)
Coronavirus warning: should you clean your jewelry? (INSIGHT)

"We have a worse reasonable scenario … which affects 80% of the population and we believe the mortality rate is 1% or less. I expect it to be less than that. "

"It takes about 12 weeks to reach the peak and then maybe about 12 weeks to start again.

"You expect about 90 percent of the cases in the middle nine weeks and 50 percent of the cases in the middle three weeks."

The first death from coronavirus in the UK occurred on Thursday when a 75-year-old woman died after being tested positive for the fatal disease.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust said the woman, who died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, suffered from underlying health conditions and was "in and out of the hospital".

The second death from coronavirus in the country occurred a day later, the old man dying while receiving treatment at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

Government ministers are expected to advise elderly people this week to visit relatives before the introduction of "social distancing" policies.

British retirees could be warned to stay at home and will likely be told to avoid overcrowded areas.

Boris Johnson unveiled a £ 46 million emergency package on Friday to help the desperate fight to find a coronavirus vaccine and develop faster tests for the deadly virus.

Downing Street said UK investment in research into coronavirus vaccines has reached £ 65 million, including £ 91 million total for international work to stop the spread of the virus.

No vaccine is currently available to protect against the coronavirus, the Prime Minister hopes that a vaccine will be ready in about a year.

England's chief doctor, Professor Chris Whitty, had warned that the UK "would not have a vaccine available for the first wave" of a pandemic.