Coronavirus infections 'will be high for weeks' unless lockdown rules obeyed, says London scientist

The coronavirus infection rate will remain high for "weeks and weeks" if people flout the social distancing rules this weekend, a top London scientist advising the Government has warned.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said that while the epidemic was expected to plateau in the next week to 10 days, people's behaviour was critical to determining what happens next.

His warning came after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock urged people to stick with the social distancing measures and resist the temptation to enjoy the sunshine forecast for swathes of the UK on Saturday and Sunday.

Asked what would happen if people flout the social distancing rules this weekend, Prof Ferguson told BBC Radio 4:

He said he was "hopeful" that some of the intense social distancing measures could be substituted with rapid access to testing and contact tracing in a few weeks' time - once case numbers are lower.