A scientist has said the leaking of plans for England’s second national lockdown to the press is “not a good explanation” for a spike in coronavirus cases.
Steven Riley, professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London, was asked if the leaking of the lockdown news caused people to “rush out for one last drink or meal or to see their friends, and that produced quite a big increase”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was difficult to ascribe the “slightly unexpected trend” of a fall then rise in cases “to any specific factor”.
– ‘Too early’ to make Christmas travel plans
A number of European countries have warned it is too early for people to start planning Christmas travel as the pandemic rages on across the continent.
France and Ireland have both said it is too soon to make travel arrangements, while Sweden has warned its citizens to prepared for restricted travel over the festive period and Portugal has extended a night-time and weekend curfew to 77 more areas.
Germany’s health minister has also warned it is unlikely life will go back to normal in December in time for winter events such as Christmas parties after more restrictions were brought in last week.
