The country has endured a year-long “epic of endurance and privation” since the first coronavirus lockdown, Boris Johnson said amid warnings that another wave of infections is inevitable.
The Prime Minister, who promised a memorial to those who have died in the pandemic, said the nation is “step by step, jab by jab” on the path to “reclaiming our freedoms” on the anniversary of the first lockdown.
Asked by The Telegraph’s political editor Ben Riley-Smith whether the Government’s objective should be to eradicate Covid or simply bring down cases to the lowest levels, Mr Johnson said: “I’m not sure eradication makes sense in a globalised economy.”
Chief medical officer professor Chris Whitty echoed the Prime Minister, adding: “I regret to say that the chances of eradicating this disease are close to zero.”
Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser also added: “Don’t expect that this thing is going to disappear.
“The chances of eradication are very close to zero, as Chris said.”
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