Chris Whitty says no more lockdowns likely with Covid to be 'treated like flu' Mirror 1 day ago Replay Video UP NEXT England's chief medical officer has said Covid is not going anywhere but the disease would be treated like the flu and local lockdowns will end. A "wide portfolio" of coronavirus vaccines could be available in two years but a cautious approach is needed in the meantime, Professor Chris Whitty said. He also said it is not a "realistic starting point" to think any policy can completely stop the import of variants to the UK, but said he could not see a system of local lockdown returning.