Social distancing measures unlikely to be relaxed in the UK for the rest of the year

The UK’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty has hinted social distancing measures to combat the spread of coronavirus are unlikely to be relaxed this year.

The measures look set to stay in place until a vaccine, or ‘highly effective drugs,’ are found, which doesn’t appear to be a possibility in 2020.

At Wednesday’s Downing Street press conference, Prof Whitty said that until we have those, “and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small”, the country is reliant on social measures, such as distancing.

He acknowledged this is “very socially disruptive” but necessary.

The UK’s coronavirus death toll rose by 763 in the last 24 hours.