Coronavirus: Millions of Britons will need to contract COVID-19 for 'herd immunity' Sir Patrick Vallance tells Sky News about 60% of people will need to become infected in order for the UK to enjoy "herd immunity". Greg Heffer, political reporter Greg Heffer Political reporter @GregHeffer
Friday 13 March 2020 11:26, UK COVID-19CORONAVIRUS WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: A member of the public is swabbed at a drive through Coronavirus testing site set up in a car park on March 12, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England. The National Health Service facility has been set up in a car park to allow people with NHS referrals to be swabbed for Covid-19. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Image: A member of the public is swabbed at a drive through testing site
Why you can trust Sky News Millions of Britons will need to contract coronavirus in order to control the impact of the disease which is likely to return "year on year", the government's chief scientific adviser has told Sky News.
Around 60% of the UK population will need to become infected with coronavirus in order for society to have "herd immunity" from future outbreaks, Sir Patrick Vallance said.
Herd immunity is the resistance to a contagious disease within a population because enough people have become immune, and so it is harder for it to spread.
There is currently no vaccine available for coronavirus.
So far, 10 people in the UK who have had COVID-19 - the disease which develops from coronavirus - have died.
Patrick Vallance still Image: Sir Patrick says most of population need to get coronavirus to achieve herd immunity The number of confirmed cases in the UK reached 590 on Thursday - up by 134 in 24 hours, although Sir Patrick believes the actual number of people infected in the UK at the moment could be between 5,000 and 10,000.
Sir Patrick described COVID-19 as a "nasty disease" but stressed most people would only experience a "mild" illness.
More from Covid-19 Coronavirus: Donald Trump says 'large scale' testing will take place in US Coronavirus: Italian town turns chapel into mortuary chamber as it struggles to cope with deaths Coronavirus: The latest NHS advice on COVID-19 symptoms Coronavirus: Mount Everest shut ahead of climbing season Coronavirus: FTSE stages rally after day of global market carnage Coronavirus: Europe suffers a crisis of health and unity as outbreak takes hold He described how a majority of the UK's population of more than 65 million would need to be infected with coronavirus for the risk of widespread future outbreaks to recede.
"We think this virus is likely to be one that comes year on year, becomes like a seasonal virus," he told Sky News.
"Communities will become immune to it and that's going to be an important part of controlling this longer term.
"About 60% is the sort of figure you need to get herd immunity."
What are the four stages of government's plan? What are the four stages of government's plan? Despite suggestions the death rate from coronavirus could be around 1% of those infected, Sir Patrick said estimating how many might die was "difficult" because there may be many more people that haven't been detected yet.
"That's why some of the new tests that are being developed now are going to be so important, so we can really understand how this disease is spreading and we don't have a handle on that yet," he added.
Sky’s Thomas Moore explains how countries around the world are preparing to contain COVID-19
How to contain a global pandemic The World Health Organisation has declared a global pandemic following the spread of coronavirus across many countries.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday confirmed the government is entering the second phase of its response to COVID-19 - moving from trying to contain the virus to delaying its spread.
Anyone with a new persistent cough or a high temperature will now have to self-isolate and stay at home for seven days, while schools have been urged to cancel planned trips abroad.
Sir Patrick is helping to oversee the government's response to coronavirus and defended the UK's strategy in dealing with the disease.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has called the coronavirus pandemic 'the worst public health crisis in a generation'.
PM: Those with symptoms should isolate for seven days Ministers are facing growing questions about why the UK isn't acting in a similar way to other European countries, such as France and Italy, who have taken measures ranging from banning large gatherings to quarantining the entire population.
Sir Patrick said the UK is "a little bit behind" where the coronavirus outbreak is in other countries due to early action in tracing and isolating those who are infected.
"What we don't want to do is to get into kneejerk reactions where you have to start doing measures at the wrong pace because something's happened," he added.
"So we're trying to keep ahead of it, we're trying to lay out the path so people can see what the actions are that are being advised."
Listen to "COVID-19 pandemic: UK officially enters 'delay' phase | 12 March 2020" on Spreaker. :: Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
Sir Patrick also described Thursday's action taken by Mr Johnson as "a very big measure", adding: "It's going to have quite a big impact across a number of people, a number of households, a number of people.
"I don't think that's a trivial measure at all."
Banning mass gatherings and isolating entire households are the next steps being considered by the government, Sir Patrick revealed.
But, he argued, most of the transmission of coronavirus occurs in small gatherings rather than larger gatherings.
hape ，留学生都知道这个事儿了。
爱情让人拥有快乐？
你是纯蠢，蠢的透透的
毕竟死人都免疫这个，没毛病
凤凰网也是自媒体了么
万物离不开格林公式啊🐶
全部感染英国可以从发达国家除名。
这就是真的，对你们🇬🇧不满意了吗？
真的不像人干出来的事😂😂看看后面会不会反转
咱们国家出院的还有二次感染的
万一没智商的是你呢
当年对抗黑死病的老传统了 一开始不当回事 后来实验各种法子 最后女巫祭天 实在不行不管了
推个毛线，这都是媒体对鲍里斯讲话的扩展解读了。BBC视频就在首页放着，有时间看推特，没时间看新闻来源？
英文看得懂吗？
在英学生表示，这是真的(//∇//)
Coronavirus: Millions of Britons will need to contract COVID-19 for 'herd immunity'
Sir Patrick Vallance tells Sky News about 60% of people will need to become infected in order for the UK to enjoy "herd immunity".
Greg Heffer, political reporter
Greg Heffer
Political reporter @GregHeffer
Friday 13 March 2020 11:26, UK
COVID-19CORONAVIRUS
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: A member of the public is swabbed at a drive through Coronavirus testing site set up in a car park on March 12, 2020 in Wolverhampton, England. The National Health Service facility has been set up in a car park to allow people with NHS referrals to be swabbed for Covid-19. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Image:
A member of the public is swabbed at a drive through testing site
Why you can trust Sky News
Millions of Britons will need to contract coronavirus in order to control the impact of the disease which is likely to return "year on year", the government's chief scientific adviser has told Sky News.
Around 60% of the UK population will need to become infected with coronavirus in order for society to have "herd immunity" from future outbreaks, Sir Patrick Vallance said.
Herd immunity is the resistance to a contagious disease within a population because enough people have become immune, and so it is harder for it to spread.
There is currently no vaccine available for coronavirus.
So far, 10 people in the UK who have had COVID-19 - the disease which develops from coronavirus - have died.
Patrick Vallance still
Image:
Sir Patrick says most of population need to get coronavirus to achieve herd immunity
The number of confirmed cases in the UK reached 590 on Thursday - up by 134 in 24 hours, although Sir Patrick believes the actual number of people infected in the UK at the moment could be between 5,000 and 10,000.
Sir Patrick described COVID-19 as a "nasty disease" but stressed most people would only experience a "mild" illness.
More from Covid-19
Coronavirus: Donald Trump says 'large scale' testing will take place in US
Coronavirus: Italian town turns chapel into mortuary chamber as it struggles to cope with deaths
Coronavirus: The latest NHS advice on COVID-19 symptoms
Coronavirus: Mount Everest shut ahead of climbing season
Coronavirus: FTSE stages rally after day of global market carnage
Coronavirus: Europe suffers a crisis of health and unity as outbreak takes hold
He described how a majority of the UK's population of more than 65 million would need to be infected with coronavirus for the risk of widespread future outbreaks to recede.
"We think this virus is likely to be one that comes year on year, becomes like a seasonal virus," he told Sky News.
"Communities will become immune to it and that's going to be an important part of controlling this longer term.
"About 60% is the sort of figure you need to get herd immunity."
What are the four stages of government's plan?
What are the four stages of government's plan?
Despite suggestions the death rate from coronavirus could be around 1% of those infected, Sir Patrick said estimating how many might die was "difficult" because there may be many more people that haven't been detected yet.
"That's why some of the new tests that are being developed now are going to be so important, so we can really understand how this disease is spreading and we don't have a handle on that yet," he added.
Sky’s Thomas Moore explains how countries around the world are preparing to contain COVID-19
How to contain a global pandemic
The World Health Organisation has declared a global pandemic following the spread of coronavirus across many countries.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday confirmed the government is entering the second phase of its response to COVID-19 - moving from trying to contain the virus to delaying its spread.
Anyone with a new persistent cough or a high temperature will now have to self-isolate and stay at home for seven days, while schools have been urged to cancel planned trips abroad.
Sir Patrick is helping to oversee the government's response to coronavirus and defended the UK's strategy in dealing with the disease.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has called the coronavirus pandemic 'the worst public health crisis in a generation'.
PM: Those with symptoms should isolate for seven days
Ministers are facing growing questions about why the UK isn't acting in a similar way to other European countries, such as France and Italy, who have taken measures ranging from banning large gatherings to quarantining the entire population.
Sir Patrick said the UK is "a little bit behind" where the coronavirus outbreak is in other countries due to early action in tracing and isolating those who are infected.
"What we don't want to do is to get into kneejerk reactions where you have to start doing measures at the wrong pace because something's happened," he added.
"So we're trying to keep ahead of it, we're trying to lay out the path so people can see what the actions are that are being advised."
Listen to "COVID-19 pandemic: UK officially enters 'delay' phase | 12 March 2020" on Spreaker.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast with Dermot Murnaghan on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker.
Sir Patrick also described Thursday's action taken by Mr Johnson as "a very big measure", adding: "It's going to have quite a big impact across a number of people, a number of households, a number of people.
"I don't think that's a trivial measure at all."
Banning mass gatherings and isolating entire households are the next steps being considered by the government, Sir Patrick revealed.
But, he argued, most of the transmission of coronavirus occurs in small gatherings rather than larger gatherings.
就是真的
去老龄化的好机会🐶
没有了，没有女朋友了
牛皮，那就是要牺牲部分人的生命了
这就是真的
我完全不敢相信。
新冠患者有复阳的，而且也是携带一定病毒的，只是随着时间过去再被慢慢消灭，虽然传染水平不高，但还是有可能的
我记得我看到广东有新闻14%的患者复阳，是要追踪密切接触者的
毕竟欧美都说洗手就行
嚯，原来人家也会造自己的谣啊
很遗憾，这是真的，你别失望
自己看
呵呵，西媒自己造的遥还少了？说我们不好的时候你全信了对吧
1. 开始抗疫计划的第三部分
2. 不再检测有症状的人群，只会检测病的不行了进医院的人（因为不能把这个人和普通病人放在一起，所以说对英国政府来说把感染的人和普通人放在一起就没关系？？
3. 咳嗽/发烧的人，自我在家隔离7天，但不要再联系英国医疗系统了，自我治愈就好（据说因为要把医疗资源留给更需要人。至于有谁比感染性贼强还要死了的感染者更需要，咱也不敢多说，咱也不敢多问
4. 英国政府的目标是，通过让病毒慢慢更多/全体国民以取得herd immunity。换言之就是希望国民可以自己产生抗体，病毒就好了（据说现在如果你实在觉得不放心，打电话给医院，接线员会告诉你，本次疫情是大自然在做选择，适者生存
5. 首相还特别提前给大家说了，这次疫情是百年罕见的，很多人会在这次的疫情里失去他们深爱的人（所以说真的就适者生存了？？不治了？？？直接就海德公园停尸房预告起来了？？是不是觉得老年人中奖几率比较高想要一举解决老龄化问题？？
6. 学校照开，就别搞海外旅行就行了
7. 接着唱生日歌洗手就没关系了
社会你英国，人狠话不多。你这么玩国民，你国民知道不？
毕竟欧洲一直是这么抗击瘟疫的。
空城计？
年轻人拖的后期也不会有好果子吃
他绥靖一直可以的
这野鸡新闻我是不信。。
真的啊，我就在英国，我第一次听说的时候以为是开玩笑，现在发现人家真的是这么想的
这是物竞天择吗？？
其实他们的一个角度，封了城然后还是会被别的蔓延再传染，其实也有一定道理，就我们现在基本控制住了，一样要防备被外国输入再爆发。还有，他们说的延迟时间采取封闭，是因为早封闭了人会受不了，对忍耐度要求高，对比我们其实也有一定道理
这个演员好像春晚那个“我骄傲”的小品演员啊。是不是他？
这才是真的，传来传去不知道传成什么了。虎扑很多人就一直在笑别人，实际别人也在笑你，都一个样。他们也忘记了那个10万鸭子支援巴基斯坦的新闻，那个更真，各个媒体转载，结果还是辟谣
你自己去查证一下不就知道了
估计和环球网、人民网混起来了吧？（手动滑稽）
比如检测出你和跟你点赞的憨憨大军们？
我也是，朋友转给我的，憋着没回
女巫:卧槽立马。都特码去死吧，谁都别想活
能干出这种事情，他都不能算是个人
哈哈哈，轻视病毒必被病毒所轻视
我在英国，这个真事。
这条新闻我也持怀疑态度
可是你说这话 你这就是逻辑加智商双重障碍了
跟你捋一捋 西方媒体特别是bbc中国，cnn对中国造谣的报道我估计都可以沿着地球转两圈了 更别提那些明着歧视你的文章
二，他们国家权威媒体自己造自己谣 让自己的国民恐慌，你当它们跟你一样没逻辑和智商么？还是这么耸人听闻的报道
行啊，利物浦是冠军😂
我问🇬🇧留学生了 真的
不是。。这个是电视剧《庆余年》里面的辛大人。
这个就是间接故意，