Coronavirus will be with us for ‘decades to come’, top scientists warn

Coronavirus will still be with us for decades even if we have a vaccine, experts have warned. Prof Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, told the Commons health and social care committee on Tuesday: “Things will not be done by Christmas. This infection is not going away, it’s now a human endemic infection.”

The top scientist, a member of the Government’s Sage advisory committee, added: “Even, actually, if we have a vaccine or very good treatments, humanity will still be living with this virus for very many, many years…. decades to come.”

The stark forecast is a blow for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said last week that he hoped for a “significant return to normality” by Christmas.

Lockdown is set to be eased again on August 1 to allow most remaining leisure venues to reopen, including indoor swimming pools, theatres, bowling alleys and beauty salons, and to encourage employers to reopen offices.

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