Matt Hancock said essential workers and their families will be able to book their own coronavirus tests from Friday as part of the plan to “get Britain back on her feet”.

However the health secretary refused to give further details of the UK’s “exit strategy” after chief medical officer Chris Whitty suggested social distancing measures may have to remain in place until 2021.

The government has come under increasing pressure to set out plans to lift the lockdown after Nicola Sturgeon set out how restrictions could be lifted in Scotland. Mr Hancock said only that “we are absolutely determined to avoid a second peak”.

Meanwhile the UK’s hospital death toll exceeded 18,700 on Thursday’s count while the number of tests carried out – 23,560 – still remained well under the 100,000 target for the end of the month.

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