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Coronavirus: At least six months before UK 'can get back to normal', Deputy Chief Medical Officer says

Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..

Easing coronavirus restrictions too soon would be "dangerous" and could result in a second surge of cases, the deputy chief medical officer for England has warned.

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press conference, Dr Jenny Harries said that it could be six months or longer before "we can get back to normal".

But she added that we would have some "proof" within the next two to three weeks about whether the measures introduced were effective, suggesting it would be "foolish" to expect an impact on numbers already.

Over the last 24 hours the UK's death toll has risen by 209 - a total of 1,228 fatalities have now been reported. Amged El-Hawrani, 55, has become the first frontline health worker to die in the UK after being diagnosed with Covid-19.