People wearing face masks wait for a bus in Manchester, Britain, on May 5, 2020. Britain has overtaken Italy as the worst-hit country in Europe by the COVID-19, according to the latest official figures released Tuesday. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said another 693 COVID-19 patients have died, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in Britain to 29,427. (Photo by Jon Super/Xinhua)

A top scientist who advised British leaders on coronavirus lockdown measures said on Tuesday he had resigned from a key government panel after admitting to breaking the country's rules on social distancing.

Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist on the advisory team helping the UK coordinate its pandemic response, stepped down following media reports that he had allowed a woman to visit him at home.

"I accept I made an error of judgement and took the wrong course of action," he said.

The scientist said he had "stepped back" from his role on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. A government spokesman confirmed his resignation.

Britain imposed strict stay-at-home orders in late March.

The government had ramped up its response to the crisis after research by Ferguson and his colleagues at Imperial College London warned that COVID-19 infections and deaths would spiral without drastic action.

Ferguson's resignation came after the Daily Telegraph reported that a woman, said to be his "lover," came to his home in London on two occasions during the lockdown.

"I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus, and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms," Ferguson said.

AFP