The government will not consider lifting the lockdown until coronavirus deaths start to fall – which could be three weeks away.
The death toll from the virus soared to 7,978 yesterday after a further 881 patients died in a single day. Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the government, told journalists at the Downing Street briefing that fatalities will continue to rise for two weeks.
Now government sources claim the first expected easing “is most likely the re-opening of schools so parents are able to get back to work”.
One told The Sun: “They will only consider easing measures once deaths start to go down. We think that is three weeks away.” Valance yesterday said sticking to the lockdown has made a “big difference”.