Dr Hilary warns Covid cases WILL rise but next peak will be ‘a little wave, not tsunami’ in battle against new strains

He told Good Morning Britain the UK is likely to experience a “little wave, not a tsunami like we saw in the first two”.

Dr Hilary told viewers the third wave will be “more controlled”, resulting in less hospitalisations and deaths due to the successful vaccination programme.

He added: “Numbers are increasing again and if restrictions being eased right now mean people getting together on the beaches in parks, in pubs and restaurants, of course we’re going to see more cases.

“And only 75% of adults have had their first dose, so that means about15m people haven’t been vaccinated at all.

“So we’re going to see more cases.

It comes as:

“The wave is likely to be more controlled; we’re probably to see less hospitalisations and deaths as a result of it.

“Because of vaccination and restrictions, however, there’s probably going to be a little wave, nothing like the tsunami we saw in the last two waves.”

GMB host Ranvir Singh asked Dr Hilary if the yesterday’s Covid figures of zero deaths was a “false dawn” to which he replied: “Yes. It’s not the beginning of the end.

“What we have is the reflection of a bank holiday with lower numbers reported and we also have a lag.

“We’re seeing more cases of a more transmissible variant.”

It comes as Boris Johnson was urged to “get on with it” and lift lockdown on June 21 – amid warnings the UK could otherwise face economic ruin and a spiralling health crisis.

Because of vaccination and restrictions, however, there’s probably going to be a little wave, nothing like the tsunami we saw in the last two waves.”

Dr Hilary on GMB

Tory grandee Sir Iain Duncan Smith has told the PM to ignore Nicola Sturgeon and “nervous scientists” and plough ahead with ‘Freedom Day’ as planned.

Top scientists urged Mr Johnson to push back his plans to unlock Britain as the Indian mutation spreads through the country.

While yesterday Sturgeon piled on further pressure by setting back the lockdown easing in Scotland.

But the UK recorded zero deaths on Tuesday for the first time since the pandemic began, even as the number of people newly-infected with the virus rose.

The news provides more hope that the vaccines are severing the link between infections, hospitalisations and deaths.

Meanwhile, every Brit aged over 18 is set to be offered a Covid vaccine in just weeks amid fears the Indian variant is being transmitted by teens ahead of the June 21 unlocking.

As it stands only adults aged 30 and over have been invited to get their jabs as health leaders focus their efforts on making sure older people have received both doses.

However it now seems officials are planning to offer jabs to all age groups following concerns the new Indian strain is spread quickly among youngsters.

Dominic Harrison, Director of Public Health for Blackburn and Darwen, warned of an “exceptionally high rate” among teenagers aged 17 and 18.

He is now urging ministers to licence the vaccine for youngsters to help protect communites across the UK.