'Physical distancing will remain critical for many months, indeed many years to come'

The government's promised comprehensive plan for restarting the economy won't now come this week but next Sunday - we will then be approaching the seven week mark of nationwide lockdown. It's been clear from ministers that the process needs to be staged with the ability to bring restrictions back in some areas, depending on what happens with the infection rate. And that could be the approach for many months to come - unless we have a proven vaccine coming into play. Today the prime minister will address a virtual conference aimed at gathering international funding pledges for the effort to find one One of the coordinating groups is CEPI - the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness - co-founded by Sir Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust and a member of the UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). (Image: scientist working in a lab. Credit: Reuters)