Countries lifting coronavirus lockdown too early will increase deaths and cause economic meltdown, a top scientist warns

Yaneer Bar-Yam, from EndCoronavirus.org, a group made up of scientists from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said America was not ready to open up because it was slow off the mark with its lockdown. Tweeting a graphic comparing countries that crushed the infection curve, he said: 'Overwhelming data says opening prematurely will increase cases, escalate loss of life and economic harm. 'Countries that acted late to impose social distancing and testing are suffering. 'Countries that acted early soon will safely restart economies. 'Don’t play with fire.'