Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, has told MPs that despite the vaccine rollout he expected a "significant" and "substantial" surge in the virus.

He told the science and technology committee: "All the modelling suggests at some point we will get a surge in the virus. We hope it doesn't happen soon - it might happen later in the summer if we open up gradually, or if there is a seasonal effect it might happen over the next autumn and winter.

"But all the modelling suggests there is going to be a further surge, and when it happens it will find the people who have not been vaccinated or where the vaccine has not worked. Some of them will be hospitalised and sadly some of them will die."

He also warned against easing restrictions faster than the dates set out in the roadmap.

For more head to our politics liveblog: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/09/news-boris-johnson-schools-covid-lockdown-rules-end-vaccine/

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