Coronavirus: Expert warns of 'inevitable third wave' in autumn

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UK Chief Statistician Professor Sir Ian Diamond argued that Chris Whitty’s predictions about coronavirus will come true. While speaking to Andrew Marr on his show, Sir Ian argued that he had “no doubt” the UK would see a third wave of coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths in the autumn. This comes after Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty predicted a third coronavirus wave.

Mr Marr said: “We will remember what happened after the summer to infections and hospitalisations and indeed deaths.

“Professor Chris Whitty has spooked quite a lot of people by talking about the inevitability of another wave of hospitalisations and deaths going forward.

“Do you think it is inevitable?”

Sir Ian said that the UK will need to continue gathering data on the overall impact of the vaccine rollout.

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However, he added coronavirus is not a disease that will go away and the UK must prepare for that fact.

He said: “Chris Whitty is someone to whom I defer on many things.

“I think we do need to properly understand how the data is moving forward.

“We need to really be looking at the impact of the wonderful vaccination rollout that we are seeing.

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“Having said that, we also need to recognise that this is a virus that isn’t going to go away.

“I have no doubt that in the autumn there will be a further wave of infections.”

Earlier this week Professor Whitty warned of future risks for the country regarding the pandemic.

Appearing in front of the science and technology committee alongside chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, he said: “As things are opening up, what all the modelling suggests is that at some point we will get a surge in virus.

“Whether that happens, we hope it doesn’t happen soon, but it might for example happen later in the summer if we open up gradually, or if there’s a seasonal effect it might happen over the next autumn or winter.

“But I think all the modelling suggests there is going to be a further surge and that will find the people who have either not been vaccinated or where the vaccine’s not worked.”

Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have both insisted they hope the restrictions of 2021 will be the last lockdown however have admitted this will depend on the data. 

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