A professor at the University of Reading has stressed "the numbers don't support" the notion coronavirus is no more dangerous than the flu, and that it is wrong to compare the number of deaths with cancer.
Prof Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology, has urged everyone remains "cautious and sensible" over coronavirus as the country approaches a second lockdown on Thursday, November 5.
Prof Clarke said it is "misguided" to believe the virus is no worse than the flu and has plenty of numbers to support his claim.
He said: "The first Covid cases in this country came in February, and so far we've had 46,000 Covid-related deaths.
"The recording of deaths caused by flu, started in 1957, and in that time, there has never been a number of deaths as high as there have been from Covid - even with a two month head start from the beginning of January.
"It's simply not true to say the same amount of people die after getting flu.
"This year, in the same period, there were 394 flu deaths.
"Even if you add in deaths caused by flu and pneumonia - which is a general catch all term for severe chest infections - over the last eight months, there are far fewer deaths, 14,800, compared to 46,000 Covid-related fatalities."
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Another argument being used is that "more people die of cancer", but Prof Clarke pointed out "there are very few cancers you can catch from other people".
He added cancer can be a "manageable disease" with many treatments than can cause it to go into remission or see patients' lives significantly extended.
Coronavirus, on the other hand, can kill in a matter of weeks, and treatments are still in their early stages.
He did say Covid-19 and flu are quite similar in that they both affect people with diabetes badly, which is why diabetics are given a a flu jab every winter.
However, he did add "most people" who get flu and coronavirus make a recovery, saying the "vast majority" would "just feel unwell".
He said: "But there are enough people that it is a problem. You have to also bear in mind no one knew anything about Covid before the pandemic. No one knew what was going to happen.
"It is definitely misguided to think it's no worse than flu."
He advised to continue to follow the social distancing rules and guidelines, remain cautious, wear a face mask and get tested if you have symptoms.
BerkshireLive contacted another expert, Dr Robin Thompson, junior research fellow at the University of Oxford with expertise in infectious disease outbreak modelling.
He pointed to Covid-19's fatality rate being substantially higher than flu, and said: "Recent claims that Covid-19 is the same as either pandemic or seasonal flu are therefore certainly not correct.
"Another key difference between seasonal influenza and Covid-19 is the availability of a vaccine. For seasonal influenza, individuals at higher risk are able to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.
"The combination of influenza and Covid-19 this winter will be particularly challenging, placing a huge strain on healthcare services. It is therefore particularly important that higher risk individuals get the flu vaccine this year."
