Professor Robert West warned the UK was facing potential catastrophe after Christmas as the new strain of the virus continued to spread around the country. Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned last night the new Covid strain was "everywhere" in the UK and that tougher measures would likely be needed to contain it. Now Sage scientist Professor West, a psychologist at University College London, called for intensified efforts to stop the virus in its tracks. Professor West said an "economic human and social disaster" would follow unless the Government built up contact tracing systems similar to ones in East Asia. Already a third of the country is in Tier 4 - the new highest level of restrictions like lockdown.

Source: Daily Mirror December 22, 2020 12:58 UTC