CORONA CRISIS Everyone must help to keep down the death toll TOP MEDIC’S HOPE OF

It was those warnings – based on computer modelling at Imperial College, London – which prompted Boris Johnson to order a national lockdown on Monday.

Although the PM – himself in isolation, as well as Heath Secretary Matt Hancock – said the lockdown would be for an initial three weeks, experts now predict it could be THREE MONTHS.

Mr Powis said: “If we do reduce the deaths to below what we initially thought that won’t be because we are somehow lucky.

“It won’t be because somehow the virus is acting in this country differently from any other country.

“It will be because every citizen in this country has complied with the instructions the Government has given based on the best scientific evidence to reduce the transmission of the disease.

“We can beat this virus, we can reduce the number of deaths.

“But only if we reduce the spread and transmission.”

Mr Powis said 170 million protective masks have been sent out to frontline workers over the past two weeks. He added that 40 million gloves had been dispatched in recent days.

Also 25 million face masks and 30 million aprons were made available.

He continued: “We’re strengthening the supply chain every day to ensure that every organisation gets the equipment that they need. That’s an absolute priority for us.”

Mr Powis said bed capacity was holding up in London, the worst-hit area, and more beds are being opened.

He added: “We are using theatres and recovery areas. Those are areas in hospitals where anaesthetic machines, ventilators, are already used for surgery and can be readily adapted to take critically ill patients. That’s almost doubling the capacity.”

Virus testing centres for NHS staff are being opened in Nottinghamshire and Chessington, Surrey, initially by appointment only. Ministers hope to