Coronavirus Explained: why the UK COVID-19 lockdown is here to stay until at least May

The UK lockdown looks set to continue at least until May as the government prepares to extend measures put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 for another three weeks.

Stand-in leader Dominic Raab is expected to make the announcement today after chairing a COBRA meeting reviewing the latest scientific evidence in the fight against coronavirus.

It comes as Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said the UK may be reaching the peak of the epidemic. At a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday he said that it appears the curve is flattening.

So why is an extension to the COVID-19 lockdown needed?

And how long could it go on for?

TV’s most-trusted medic Dr Hilary Jones is here to answer those and the following Sun reader questions in today’s episode of Ask Dr Hilary: Coronavirus Explained.

In today’s show:

- How will the government roll out testing for everyone, and when?

- A neighbour on our terrace keeps getting visits from her family and her new boyfriend, how do I report her?

- How long do you think this lockdown will last

- What can I use to clean my PPE when my anti-bacterial wipes run out?

- Can we still go on our summer holiday this year?

- Can you catch the virus from supermarket trolleys?

- Can food in its wrapping be put in the freezer to kill the virus?


Read more:

From Brexit breaking news to HD movie trailers, The Sun newspaper brings you the latest news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world.

Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know

[bobdigi]

I feel like the damage from lock down is doing more harm to peoples lives than the virus itself. The damage to peoples mental health, the loss of jobs, damage to the economy, increase in child abuse and domestic abuse, increase in depression, the increase in suicide during after all this, missed family moments and people being isolated from friends and family all have direct negative impacts on peoples lives.
I know we need to protect the NHS but at what cost?
I haven't got the answer and i'm glad i don't have to make it.

[daniel-jamesireland.]

["Freemasonary at its worst"]

[peterwhelan]

The Sun is the worst news paper ever printed.

[santallum]

If it has an incubation period of a week and we have been locked down for 3 weeks and you say the situation is getting worse
Doesn't add up sorry

[DABOXASH]

Overwhelmed? The hospitals near me are quieter than ever!

[kopaskutq]

Bruh, people are not saying at home, lockdown has failed in every sense.

[georgewatts]

I am just saying thanks to the NHS for helping and I don't want to go back to school but I want to go on holiday

[rivermeup]

I'm pretty sure I had the coronavirus about a month ago, I've had worse colds. Protect the vulnerable, let me healthy people work, save the economy and peoples' livelihoods.

[hypermodel]

I'm sure it's very easy to just say "oh, let's add another few weeks to the lockdown" - especially when you're in your 2nd home via taxpayer money, cohabiting with your spouse or entire family - but to expect all the currently severely isolated people to continue their imprisonment in studio flats, separated from loved ones, for too long is madness - all while the police have been recorded trespassing (plus violating social distancing advice) to threaten people into submission.

[TheIndianMonarchNews]

Why UK has the least recoveries when compared to other similarly affected countries?

[peterg]

The Lockdown must continue until this virus stops killing people...

[callum]

What about the people who are in new jobs, they’re not getting anything?

[carljthatsme]

As someone who works in retail, I can say that lockdown needs to be way more aggressive. There are too many people out. Too many people filling shops and wandering the streets. Stop everybody from going out. You want to go out, you apply for a letter hat is only valid that day. I'd rather we are all miserable prisoners for a few weeks than given glimmers of hope that go nowhere for many weeks.


Also the effect on the economy is going to be disastrous. This virus has spread because the people of today refuse to listen

[zzeb]

Why are Romanians flying here to work then?

[pennypillow]

big respect to all the NHS workers, everyone doing deliveries and working in shops and driving lorries. without you all we'd be screwed

[venomkraft]

why are we allowing flights into U.K unchecked its a total joke whats the point of us staying in when no checks are done

[Mythocentric]

If the NHS is being overwhelmed, why are there more empty beds than usual? These are beds which were kept cleared for Corvid 19 cases which haven't materialised. Also, why is it being suggested that the new hospital in Newcastle, built to deal with Corvid 19 cases, will never actually need to be used? Honest answers please, if you know, rather than the usual ignorant obscenities from the trolls!

[natureisthebestshine]

At least we know that the NHS and UK government have tried.. I appreciate all their efforts and I totally understand that it isn't easy to maintain number of deaths(neither increase nor decrease). Hope lockdown ends soon. ❤TheUk. if you are a person that goes outside for fun I suggest you staying inside because it saves many lives, I understand that it's difficult but remember that the more we stay inside the quicker lockdown will end. ❤❤

[kjames_]

Why are we going bck to school?? The more we go the more the virus spread 🤦🏿🤦🏿

[MsNICHOLINE]

We don’t want to be chipped by bill gates