Social measures will need to be in place for most of a year at least in order to control the spread of Covid-19, scientists have advised, as the UK death toll hit 177.
The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling agreed on Monday that, while the severity of measures could alternate during the period, "stricter" measures would need to be enforced for at least half of the year in order to keep cases at a level the NHS can cope with.
Strict measures could include school closures and social distancing for everyone, while less restrictive measures include isolating cases and households.
It comes as a further 39 people aged 50 to 99 died in England after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the UK death toll to 177.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk