Coronavirus news - live: Boris Johnson moved out of intensive care as lockdown measures to stay in place and UK death toll increases by 881

The government is expected to signal that the UK lockdown will be extended beyond next week, potentially until May, as the country braces for the peak of the coronavirus epidemic over the coming days.

Dominic Raab, who provided today's government briefing after having chaired an emergency Cobra meeting of top officials, said the nation was "not there yet" - while announcing a 24 hour increase to the death toll of 881.

Senior ministers gathered to discuss the next steps for the UK’s response to Covid-19 without prime minister Boris Johnson, who remains in intensive care but is said to be “improving” and responding to treatment after a “good night” in hospital. Mr Raab said he was in "good spirits" but admitted he had not spoken to the PM since he was taken into intensive care.

It comes as the latest figures show attempts to boost the number of ventilators and coronavirus tests in the UK have stalled.​ Meanwhile, The Alzheimer’s Society has warned dementia patients in care homes are being “abandoned” to the coronavirus.

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