Normal life may not return to the UK for up to six months as the government warned that strict social distancing measures may continue into the summer to help the National Health Service cope with coronavirus.

Boris Johnson’s government is preparing for the number of deaths and cases of the disease to accelerate in the coming days. According to figures released on Sunday, 1,228 people have died in the UK from the virus — an increase of 209 in one day — and 19,522 have tested positive.

Speaking from Downing Street, Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer, warned that “all of our efforts will be wasted” if the UK ended social distancing measures too rapidly. The government will review the national lockdown, announced by Boris Johnson last Monday, within three weeks.