AN INCREASE in commuting could cause a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic, a new study had warned.

University of Sussex engineering expert Professor Maziar Nekovee said the resumption of daily commutes could risk an “exponential increase” in the spread of the virus.

This means the number of new cases each day would increase daily, as was the case before Covid-19 peaked in the UK.

Prof Nekovee said: “Our results strongly indicate that any premature lifting of mobility restrictions will result in the return of Covid-19’s exponential growth in a second wave.”

He recommended restrictions on commuting and exercise should be imposed until compulsive wearing of face masks and the use of “comprehensive” contact tracing are in place.