Asked whether indirect imapcts of lockdown were fully considered, Whitty says "our view was the impact of secondary effects were likely to be relatively smaller than if we had not brought in measures necessary... we needed to get R below 1or the NHS would have been overwhelmed"

Whitty says current estimate is that R (avg. number of people each carrier infects) is below 1, but "left to its own devices" R would "definitely" go up. Says current measure based on hospital data, but ONS surveillance process starting next week will offer better measure soon

On lockdown timing, Whitty points out "multiple things" were introduced before March 24th: hand washing; self-isolation; household isolation; shielding; school & pub closures all came before. Says "end of epidemic" would be time to look at timing question in a "non partisan" way

Whitty: "the peak we are going through at the moment is an artificial peak"

Says v few people (relatively) around country will have had it so return to exponential growth anywhere in the country still possible & threat of second wave identical everywhere