Do not relax Covid-19 measures in Wuhan too soon, scientists warn

Lifting restrictions in March could lead to new peak of cases in August, study suggests

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Relaxing physical distancing and school closures in Wuhan too soon could fuel a second wave of Covid-19 infections later in the year, scientists have said.

A study published in the Lancet suggests lifting restrictions in March would lead to a surge in case numbers that would peak in August. It predicts that maintaining the restrictions until April would delay a second peak until October, which would relieve pressure on health services in the intervening months.