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CURBS on everyday life due to coronavirus will be needed until June — but could last for six months, experts warned yesterday.

Scotland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: "We will need some measures for at least 13 weeks."

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 Dr calderwood said the lockdown could last 13 weeks
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Dr calderwood said the lockdown could last 13 weeksCredit: PA:Press Association

But as the UK death toll rose by 209 to 1,228, her counterpart down south admitted life may not return to normal until autumn.

It means that draconian lockdown measures could become even stricter if the spread of Covid-19 doesn’t slow.

Dr Calderwood said the public should brace themselves for months of social-distancing as the UK approached the end of the first week of tough new measures.

And the CMO said the current tough restrictions on movement could be hardened further if a sufficient slowdown in infections is not recorded by mid April, when a “review” of the rules is promised by Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon.

Dr Calderwood said: “We will know if these measures have had an effect within two to three weeks.

 The whole of Scotland is on lockdown
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The whole of Scotland is on lockdownCredit: All rights reserved +44(0)7989437787

“If they are not, I’m afraid more stringent measures would need to be put in place.

“But whatever we are doing to combat the virus we need to have some sort of measures in place for at least 13 weeks.”

It’s not known what more stringent measures would be. But in Italy residents need to fill out permits to leave home and can only exercise nearby.

Dr Calderwood spoke alongside Ms Sturgeon in Edinburgh as they revealed the coronavirus death toll rose by one to 41 yesterday. Some 95 virus patients are in intensive care, up from 72 on Friday amid a frantic scramble by the UK and Scottish governments to find more ventilators.

The number of confirmed cases here — thought to be a fraction of actual numbers — was 1,384, up 139 in a day.

It came after a leading epidemic adviser to the UK Government warned the lockdown — enforced with police fines — would have to remain in place until June.


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The First Minister said the number of cases was “growing quite rapidly”, and 13 weeks was “always likely” to be the time the restrictions would have to be in place.

She added: “Of course we will always keep under review the type of measures and we will not keep them in place for any longer than we have to do. I’ve said all along we will do whatever is advised necessary to protect the population as much as possible from this virus.”

Dr Calderwood said the peak of the crisis was expected in two to three weeks, around the week of April 13 — but UK areas such as London may be worse hit.

She added: “The reason for the measures be in place for a long time is the incubation period of the virus is up to two weeks.

 Nicola STurgeon confirmed that 41 people have died from the bug in Scotland
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Nicola STurgeon confirmed that 41 people have died from the bug in ScotlandCredit: PA:Press Association

“People who are going to become very sick are very sick for quite a long time — between two and three weeks.  We will know if these (lockdown) measures have had an effect in two to three weeks.”

England’s Deputy CMO Jenny Harries yesterday warned the crisis could last for more than six months, with lower-level social distancing needed after lockdown ends.

She said: “We could see a second peak. So, over time, probably over the next six months, we will have a three-week review.

“We need to keep that lid on, and then gradually, hopefully, we will be able to adjust some of the social-distancing measures.”

Imperial College Professor Neil Ferguson has warned the UK must stay in full lockdown until June to thwart the virus.

Current measures restrict all but essential movement, but allow food shopping, exercising alone or with household members, and for people to go to work if absolutely necessary.

Police have the power to fine anyone aged 16 or over £30 if they flout the rules, with penalties up to £960 for repeat offenders.

Tory minister Michael Gove yesterday said the lockdown would be in place for a “significant period” and could last longer if people do not sick to the rules.

Dr Calderwood also said NHS staff testing numbers would be ramped up in the coming days, while plans are underway to “quadruple” the number of ventilators.

It also emerged Holyrood legislation will be tabled on Tuesday to protect private and social tenants from eviction.

chris.musson@the-sun.co.uk

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