The scientist, who recommended the first lockdown, said Germany, Italy, France and Spain have lower infection levels.
It gives them room to manoeuvre and would allow them to avoid “unduly stressing” their national health systems.
He made the comments during a Parliamentary session on coronavirus, adding the UK is closer to what it can handle.
He said the NHS is “much closer to the limit”, and the current mitigation strategy is behind this.
The Government’s “live with Covid” strategy is behind current transmission rates, he added.