An expert warns that the UK faces a severe winter to combat Covid before next year's pandemic.

Linda Bauld believes we might need to have more restrictions at one point but still has hope for 2022.

She stated that Britain is "emerging" from a pandemic, which poses a risk to its health.

However, the academic in public health warned that winter could prove "difficult" for many people and could result in new restrictions on our freedoms.

When asked if there might be more lockdowns during the winter and autumn, she said to BBC Breakfast that "none of us can predict the future (but) I believe that it will not be the situation."

"I believe we will see, for instance, outbreaks or surges in localities, and we may need to take a more targeted approach.

"I think the UK, along with a few other countries, are looking ahead to the next months and saying, "Well, we're going through a tough winter, but if you can get past this, I believe we will emerge from the pandemic, which is an immediate threat to health for everyone in an area, and to an endemic situation of this virus."

"And that is what we all hope."

She said, "We will probably need vaccines or boosters for the near future."

Another expert expressed hope that those who are eligible for the Covid-19 booster shot as well as a simultaneous flu jab would be "as safe and protected as possible".

Dr Chris Smith, a consultant virologist at Cambridge University and lecturer, said that the fall will bring out all the usual suspects. People going back to school and people going back work can facilitate the spread and outbreak of infectious diseases. This is something we see every year, and this year we expect it to be no different.

"But, this will not be enough to cover the possibility of more coronavirus infections or flu.

"Flu has been very quiet due to the measures taken to stop the spread coronavirus. We have only seen very few cases around the globe of flu.

"This is accomplishing two things. First, because people aren't catching it, they don't boost their natural immunity to the flu so that there are more people at risk.

"Secondly, we usually have a large network of thousands laboratories that collect flu samples from all over the globe throughout the year. These are sent back to the World Health Organisation to determine what vaccine to develop.

"The flu is no longer on our radar screens so we have to resort to guesswork when it comes to what flu vaccines we will need this year.

"We believe there is every reason for concern about flu this year or next year. It's because flu vaccine confers some protection, even though it is not the best match to what's circulating."

We reported last week on how the government had prepared plans for winter firebreak' lockdowns.

The i reports that restrictions on school holidays in the NHS could be reinstated if it is "tipped to the edge".

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Downing Street confirmed that it has plans to reimpose Covid restrictions "local, regional, or national" if necessary.