Whitty: revising plan to ease England lockdown would risk fresh Covid surge

Chief medical officer tells MPs lifting rules more quickly would lead to more hospitalisations and deaths

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England's chief medical officer has warned MPs that revising the government's roadmap to emerge from lockdown sooner than planned would risk a more serious third wave of Covid infections.

Prof Chris Whitty said he expected a surge of infections once restrictions were lifted but that exiting lockdown faster, when fewer people are vaccinated, would send more people into hospital and lead to more deaths.