Top UK scientists on virus deaths, South Africa variant

England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty said Tuesday that due to rising numbers of people requiring hospitalization, there will ''inevitably'' be an increase in the number of people dying from coronavirus in January.

The government's chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said it was possible ''theoretically'' that the virus variant coming from South Africa could impact the effectiveness of vaccines, while cautioning that it was too early to know.

''It is unlikely to abolish the effect,'' he added.