UK can expect thousands of Covid deaths every year, warn scientists

Disease will circulate alongside flu and other seasonal viruses and become part of accepted winter illness

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Britain faces the prospect of thousands of annual Covid deaths for years to come, scientists have warned.

They say waves of cases are likely to sweep the country every winter as Covid-19 joins other seasonal viruses, including influenza, in taking its toll of elderly and infirm people. Every year, as cold weather forces people indoors, virus transmission will increase, case numbers will rise, and some of these will result in deaths.