Public Health England Chief warns masks and social distancing will last for YEARS TO COME

People will need to wear face coverings and socially distance for several years until we return to normality.

Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at Public Health England, said basic measures should remain in place until all other countries have taken up vaccination programmes.

She also said a return of big spectator events required careful monitoring and clear instructions about ‘staying safe.’

Ramsay said lower-level restrictions such as face coverings in crowded places and social distancing had become accepted by many and still allowed the economy to function.

She said “people have got used to those lower level restrictions now, and people can live with them, and the economy can still go on with those less severe restrictions in place”.

“So I think certainly for a few years, at least until other parts of the world are as well vaccinated as we are, and the numbers have come down everywhere, that is when we may be able to go very gradually back to a more normal situation,” she added.

Warning it was “very important that we do not relax too quickly”, Dr Ramsay said any circulating virus would inevitably pick on those who are vulnerable.

“We have to look very carefully before any of these restrictions are lifted,” she said.