LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain is at a dangerous stage in the coronavirus outbreak, and easing social and economic restrictions too soon would create a second spike of infections.
Johnson spoke to the nation on his first day back at work after recovering from COVID-19.
He said the U.K. is reaching "the end of the first phase of this conflict" but warned that a quick end to the lockdown was not in sight.
He said "we simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow or even when" restrictions would be loosened. Johnson spent a week in a London hospital earlier this month with the coronavirus, including three nights in intensive care.