THE UK could be facing up to a six-month period before life returns to ’normal’, said England’s deputy chief medical officer

‘This is not to say we would be in complete lockdown for six months,’ said Dr Jenny Harries, speaking at the government’s daily coronavirus briefing.

But, she added: ‘We have to be really, really responsible and keep doing what we’re all doing.’

It came as the number of deaths caused by coronavirus in the UK rose by 209 to 1,228 people.

That is slightly lower than Saturday’s increase of 260.

The vast majority of those - 190 - have come in England.

Wales has reported 10 new deaths, there have been a further six in Northern Ireland, and one in Scotland.

The Department of Health and Social Care said there were now 19,522 confirmed cases in the UK.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the UK is on an ‘emergency footing’ in a way ‘unprecedented’ in peacetime.