How long could lockdown last in the UK?

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to extend the UK's coronavirus lockdown until at least May 7, following the Prime Minister's emergency address to the nation on March 23, when the UK's lockdown measures were announced.

Boris Johnson said the measures, which only permit people to leave their homes for very limited purposes, would be in place for three weeks until April 13.

Downing Street confirmed the strict rules would be reviewed "on or around" the three week mark, as Matt Hancock threatened to ban outdoor exercise all together if people continued to flout social distancing measures.

With the number of cases continuing to rise in the UK, Health Minister Edward Argar made it clear now is not the time to start easing the restrictions.

Here, we take a closer look at what the Government has said about lockdown measures.

How long will lockdown last?

We don't know exactly how long the UK's lockdown will last, but Dominic Raab is expected to extend the UK's coronavirus lockdown until at least May 7.

He said Brits should brace for an extension, with no easing of lockdown measures expected this week.

After revealing that more than 11,000 Covid-19 patients have now died across the country, he added: “We’ve still got a long way to go, and as those grisly figures that I’ve just read out show, we’ve still not passed the peak of this virus."

According to The Times, it's expected that on Thursday Mr Raab will tell the nation the stay-at-home orders will not be lifted for at least another three weeks.

Previously, government ministers suggested the lockdown would be extended beyond the initial three weeks, as Boris Johnson spent his third night in intensive care.

The Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC: "We're just beginning to see this strategy start to work, we're not seeing cases accelerating. People really need to stick the course."

Ministers sat in an emergency COBRA meeting on April 9 to review the UK's lockdown measures based on evidence of their success.

However, at the time Mr Dowden said: "You shouldn't expect a decision today on restrictions", with an announcement expected next week instead.

He urged people to stay inside over the coming Easter weekend "however tempting it is" not to do so. ​

Speaking earlier to BBC News, he explained: “The Welsh government announced their decision yesterday, we will announce the outcome of considering these measures next week but the measures are in place in England just as they are in Wales.

“I don’t think it’s very likely these measures are going to be changed given they’re just starting to have an effect but, as we said, we would review them. It’s only prudent that on an ongoing basis we review them after three weeks.”

On Tuesday April 7, Dominic Raab, whilst deputising for Boris Johnson, said the worst thing the UK could do was "take its foot off the peddle" regarding social distancing measures.

He said: "In terms of the review, we are not at that stage yet. We will take any decision when the time is right, based on the facts and the scientific and medical advice.

"Our number one and overriding focus right now is on conveying the key message which is that everyone needs to keep adhering to this guidance."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan echoed ministers in saying the capital is "nowhere near" being able to ease measures, as the World Health Organisation warned leaders to be "very careful".

In a virtual international press conference, the WHO said it was too soon to scale back measures aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus, in spite of "positive" signs from some countries, and cautioned against "complacency".

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