Coronavirus outbreak: UK’s top doctor warns there’s no way to turn back the epidemic

Britain will not be able to turn back the epidemic caused by the new coronavirus so is working on managing the COVID-19 outbreak by bolstering capacity in the National Health Service, the government’s chief medical officer said on Thursday. Chris Whitty, the government’s most senior medical adviser, said scientists were now reasonably sure about the mortality rates of COVID-19, but warned that in the UK they would appear higher than expected until greater numbers of people are tested.