Britain must learn to live with COVID-19, it could be with us forever - Javid

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid speaks during a news conference for the latest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) update, in Downing Street, London, Britain January 19, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/Pool

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain must learn to live with COVID-19 as it may be with us forever, health minister Sajid Javid said on Thursday, adding that Britain was moving ahead of other countries as the government lifted coronavirus measures.

"We need to learn to live with it. Sadly people die of flu as well: in a bad flu year you can sadly lose about 20,000 lives, but we don't shut down our entire country," Javid told Sky News.