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, Reuters quoted the government's chief medical officer as saying 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.

A homeless man holds a sign reading "What about us Boris — were we gunna isolate? Help!", relating to the UK government's advice to self-isolate if a person has covid-19 symptoms, in London, on March 19, 2020. Britain announced Wednesday it would be closing schools in the coming days and placing 20,000 troops on standby in efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll topped 100. — AFP
A homeless man holds a sign reading "What about us Boris — were we gunna isolate? Help!", relating to the UK government's advice to self-isolate if a person has covid-19 symptoms, in London, on March 19, 2020. Britain announced Wednesday it would be closing schools in the coming days and placing 20,000 troops on standby in efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus, as the death toll topped 100. — AFP

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