COVID-19: Latest figures are “evidence” of third wave of coronavirus, according to former government science adviser | UK News

Sir David King, the government’s former chief scientific adviser, said the current COVID-19 figures are “evidence of yet another wave.”

He told Sky News: “[There are] 5,300 new illnesses a day in the UK and we are up around 2,000 from last week.

“Now we’re discussing whether or not we’re going into a serious third wave and I don’t think we can wait any longer.

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“This is proof of the appearance of another wave.”

About 400 infections a day are in people who have received both vaccines, said Sir David, chairman of the Independent Sage Group.

He said: “We know that anyone who is vaccinated twice is relatively safe against the virus.

“But let’s not forget that one in 25 new cases are people who have been vaccinated twice – that means 400 new cases per day are people who have been vaccinated twice.”

He also called on ministers to delay the proposed June 21 easing of the lockdown in England.

“[On] the number of people in our hospitals, which the government says is relatively stable, is 932 per day entering the hospital, 65 more than last week. It’s not really stable, it’s slowly increasing, ”he said.

“What all of this means is that intensive care is needed for a significant proportion of our population today.

“I’m very reluctant to say that we shouldn’t come out of lockdown on June 21, but I think the numbers are now, and it will be wise for the government to announce a delay in opening right away, just so that we can all plan for the post June 21 period. “

When asked for how long, he replied, “I would give it a few weeks late and see how the numbers emerge.

“So I don’t know how long.

“As the Prime Minister said, it is …