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Coronavirus lockdown measures could last for more than 18 months

The UK could be on lockdown for more than 18 months under a 'suppression' strategy while Brits wait for a coronavirus vaccine, experts at Imperial College's Covid-19 Response Team found

Draconian measures to tackle coronavirus could last for more than 18 months(Getty Images)

'Draconian' measures to cut the spread of coronavirus may be in force for more than 18 months, according to a report.

Imperial College's Covid-19 Response Team - who are advising the UK Government -  said a 'suppression' approach was the only viable way to tackle the disease.

Last week Boris Johnson said that measures were in place to 'mitigate' the outbreak - but that has since been replaced by 'suppression' when the experts predicted that mitigation would still result in 250,000 deaths in the UK.

Boris Johnson announced he was adopting the new strategy at a press conference today, urging people to avoid restaurants, pubs and confined spaces.

He also recommended people work from home wherever possible.

Experts at Imperial College found that 'social distancing', self-isolating at home and closing schools and universities would stem the outbreak.

The report, released today, said: "To avoid a rebound in transmission, these policies will need to be maintained until large stocks of vaccine are available to immunise the population – which could be 18 months or more."

Experts advocated a 'social distancing' approach to tackling the virus(PA)

It found that a 'mitigation' strategy - focused on slowing not reversing the spread, would result in 250,000 deaths in Britain in the best case scenario.