BORIS Johnson claimed that there may be a “significant return to normality” by Christmas during a press conference this morning.
Independent Sage scientists have warned that if the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in England remains at its current level, there will be a further 30,000 virus deaths by next spring.
And this week a report by the Academy of Medical Sciences, commissioned by UK Government chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, warned that in a worst-case scenario a second wave of Covid-19 infections could bring 120,000 deaths by June.
READ MORE: Covid-19 second wave could bring 120k UK deaths, scientists warn
The report acknowledged there is a lot of uncertainty over how the pandemic will evolve in the coming months, but said a “reasonable worst-case scenario” would mean the R rate rising to 1.7 from September.
Other countries, like the US, have seen cases begin to spike as they eased lockdown restrictions.
Despite the warnings from scientists, the Tory leader told his briefing that it was his “strong and sincere hope” that life in England can return to normal more “in time for Christmas”.
It will be up to the devolved nations to decide how they further ease coronavirus restrictions. Scotland is currently in phase three of lockdown easing, and Nicola Sturgeon has said she thinks we will face these restrictions for some time longer.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson fails to answer if he is the Union's biggest threat
As Johnson called on people in England to go back to work and use public transport from August 1, he told today’s briefing: "It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest - possibly in time for Christmas.”
Also during the briefing, Johnson was asked whether he accepted he is currently the biggest threat to the Union.
He failed to answer the question and instead praised the co-operation between the UK’s nations in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
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