Professor Karol Sikora, a cancer expert and former member of the Department of Health’s Expert Advisory Group on cancer, outlined a four stage plan to get the country back on its feet by mid-May. His exit plan from the curfew comes as leading scientists believe that the worst of the crisis may well be over, after figures released on Tuesday saw the fewest number of new infections for COVID-19 recorded since March 31. The first stage of the lockdown escape would be for small businesses with less than 50 employees to open again on April 27.

The government should then allow schools to reopen and ease social distancing measures on May 4, before permitting offices, bars and restaurants to open again on May 18.

The final step would be to lift restrictions on international travel and mass gatherings on June 1, the oncologist said.

Professor Sikora cautioned that his plan relied on people continuing to follow the current social distancing rules and for widespread testing to be implemented.

He wrote: “The lockdown is working – we are flattening the curve.

“But we need to see an exit strategy.

“With more testing, no mutations of the virus and compliance with the rules I think this is a feasible timetable.

“During this crisis I have remained an optimist – let’s hope I’m right.”

The professor’s plan drew hope to many social media users, already weary of the two and half week old quarantine.

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One wrote: “This gives me hope from escaping this living hell.”

While another posted: “Even reading this gives a sense of relief and can make the lockdown a bit more bearable.”

And a third commented: “Can someone please appoint you as a Government advisor?”

Dominic Raab, who is currently deputising for the incapacitated Boris Johnson, is expected to announce on Thursday that the strict lockdown measures will remain in force beyond next week.

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Government sources suggested that the foreign Secretary would address the issue at Thursday’s Downing Street press conference, according to the Guardian.

Ministers have come under increasing pressure for greater clarity, as senior politicians from around the UK have voiced their preference for the curfew to be extended.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: “I think when the prime minister announced the lockdown just over two and half weeks ago, he said he would review it in three weeks’ time, which is this Monday.

“I think we’re nowhere near lifting the lockdown.

“In London we lost 224 lives on Tuesday, so we’re still, I’m afraid, on a daily basis seeing too many people losing their lives.

“At the moment, thankfully, we’ve got some spare capacity in intensive care units in London but we can’t be complacent at all.”

Nicola Sturgeon also said that Scotland is not preparing to ease the lockdown any time soon.

It’s believed that evidence so far does not support the idea that the crisis is nearing its peak north of the border.

The Scottish MPs expect the rigorous social distancing measures to stay in place for at least another 12 to 13 weeks.

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