Express.co.uk conducted an online survey asking readers if they felt the strict measures should be rolled back. The majority of those who took part believe it is still too soon to ease restrictions on social gatherings. The results come as ministers have urged Britons to stay indoors over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Parts of Britain are set for scorching temperatures, with some regions set to reach 25C on Saturday.

A total of 8,165 readers (83 percent) backed the Government’s plan to continue with the lockdown until the crisis improved.

Just 1,523 people (16 percent) said they would like to see the measures peeled back.

Only 187 (less than one percent) said they were unsure about where they stood on the issue.

A total of 9,875 people responded to the survey between 9.40am and 7pm on Thursday, April 9.

Police have warned anyone caught flouting lockdown rules will face punishment.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was still too soon for ministers to begin lifting the strict social distancing rules introduced last month.

Mr Raab – who is deputising for Boris Johnson while he is in intensive care – said they could not begin to start looking again at the measures until the end of next week.

On Thursday another 881 people were confirmed dead after testing positive for COVID-19.

The death toll stands at 7,978.

One Express.co.uk reader in France said the UK-wide lockdown should “absolutely not” be lifted.

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She said: “We in France have had longer in lock down and still no lifting of it.”

Another said: “I think it needs to be looked at on a week to week basis and those businesses that can put people’s safety first should reopen.”

And a third said allowing people out of their homes too early in the epidemic could prove “fatal”.

“Can’t wait for this lockdown to be lifted as I am having withdrawal symptoms for my KFC fix,” they said.

“However, to do it too early would be fatal.”

But others argued that daily life would need to return to normal soon as people could stay inside only for so long.

One person said: “We can’t hide forever.

“After this virus, there will be another and another…”

Downing Street has offered the Government’s “full backing” to police forces seeking to enforce the restrictions over the Easter holiday period.

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