CORONAVIRUS deaths in the UK will continue to rise for two weeks, according to the UK's chief scientific adviser.

Sir Patrick Vallance was asked about death projections at a press conference at Downing Street.

He said: “In general I’d expect the deaths to continue to keep going up for about two weeks after the intensive care picture improves and so we’re not there yet in terms of knowing exactly when that will be, but that’s the sort of time frame I’d expect.”

READ MORE: UK's coronavirus death toll rises to 7978, an increase of 881

Vallance said it is important to continue with the measures in place.

He added: “The measures that everybody has taken, the difficult things that we’ve all had to do, are making a difference, they’re making a big difference.

“We know that the social distancing is working and we know that people are doing what they’re supposed to do and we need to keep doing that.

“And the reason we need to keep doing that is because it stops the transmission of the virus in the community and we know that that is already happening.”

He continued: “The message is clear which is the social distancing we’re doing is breaking transmission, it’s stopping the hospital admissions, beginning to see that flattening off, still unbelievably busy but beginning to see that flatten off, it’s preventing more people going into intensive care and it will prevent deaths.”

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