THE public have been warned against thinking the Covid pandemic "is all over" despite the unveiling of the Government's roadmap out of lockdown this week.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam admitted he was "worried" people would believe the pandemic was no longer of concern. 

Making the comments during the Downing Street press conference on Friday, Prof Van-Tam urged people to "hold their nerve."

When asked if he was concerned that the roadmap out of the third lockdown would prompt people to believe the end is here, he replied with a firm "yes."

He said: "I do worry that people think it's all over, the more they think that when it's not, the greater the headwind they're going to give to the vaccine programme and the more at risk will become the milestones set on the roadmap.

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"It's just a collective effort, it is actually up to us whether we can hold our nerve and see this through properly to the end of the roadmap, or whether we're going to kind of fall at the last furlough."

Prof Van-Tam's comments were made weeks after North Yorkshire Police revealed the force had issued 355 fines to Covid rule breakers in 31 days.

Meanwhile, it had moved to urge people from outside the area to avoid visiting while national restrictions were in place.

It said that one motorist, who is in her 30s, was given a £100 fine after driving from Lincolnshire to have a McDonald's meal with her sister in Scarborough.