The UK’s coronavirus lockdown should start coming to an end on April 27, a professor of medicine has said.

Speaking as part of a panel of experts on Good Morning Britain, Professor Karol Sikora said he believes the country is currently ‘going through the plateau’ of the crisis, meaning the government can start thinking about how to get everyone ‘back to work’.

Noting that the number of coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths will soon be ‘going down’, he said: ‘We’ve got to think about how to get Britain, and all countries, back to work. Four European countries are going back to work tomorrow, and Austria’s leading the way by opening Kindergartens and schools.

‘It’s too early now and we’ve got to obey the government guidelines, but I hope on Thursday when the committee meets, they will consider a gentle relaxation, beginning with young people and families, keeping the vulnerable and elderly well-secluded. Then moving out to make small business open, places with less than 50 people and gradually during the month of May, getting everybody back to work.’

Professor Sikora, who specialises in oncology, added that the number of coronavirus cases will start dropping before the number of deaths. At least 10,612 have died from Covid-19 in the UK, after a further 737 deaths were confirmed on Sunday.

Lockdown measures were put in place across the UK on March 23, for an initial period of three weeks, which would have seen them lifted today.

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This morning First Secretary of State Dominic Raab is expected to announce that the restrictions will be extended, ahead of a Cobra meeting on Thursday in which new guidelines will be drawn up by the government.

The Cabinet is currently said to be split between trying to protect the public as much as possible and trying to ensure the economy does not collapse. The former, reportedly led by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, are believed to be advocating for an extension of six weeks, while the latter are opting for three weeks.

The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned last week that ending social-distancing measures too early could see a ‘deadly resurgence’ of coronavirus.

He said: ‘I know that some countries are already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions. WHO wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone.

‘At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly.’

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