Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted "we may never find a coronavirus vaccine" and the deadly illness could be with us for the "forseeable future".
His stark message comes as his 60-page roadmap plan for the UK is revealed, following his televised message to the country last night.
In his message at the front of the huge document Mr Johnson wrote: "It is clear that the only feasible long-term solution lies with a vaccine or drug-based treatment, but while we hope for a breakthrough, hope is not a plan.
"A mass vaccine or treatment may be more than a year away. Indeed, in a worst-case scenario, we may never find a vaccine.
"So our plan must countenance a situation where we are in this, together, for the long haul, even while doing all we can to avoid that outcome."
Mr Johnson released the roadmap after coming under intense scrutiny last night, following the mixed messages and lack of clarity as the stay at home message changed to stay alert.
The document does not include a date that families can expect to be able to spend private time with their loved ones again, nor does it say how businesses still unable to open will survive.
Mr Johnson added: "It is not a quick return to 'normality.'
"Nor does it lay out an easy answer. And, inevitably, parts of this plan will adapt as we learn more about the virus.
"But it is a plan that should give the people of the United Kingdom hope."
Among the announcements in the new guidance is a warning that economic support measures, like the Job Retention Scheme which pays furloughed workers 80% of their salaries, will need to "wind down...while people are eased back to work".
The guidance, which mostly covers the lockdown in England but also includes measures around foreign travel and the global fightback against Covid-19 which affect the whole UK, outlines the massive changes which will come as we begin easing restrictions.
From Wednesday, the official guidance will be that people should wear face coverings on public transport, and in enclosed spaces.
And parents of key workers and vulnerable children, who have avoided sending their children to school so far, will be encouraged to send their offspring back to school as the Government tries to get the economy moving again.
However, the 'Stay at Home' message will remain in place in Scotland and Wales with Nicola Sturgeon saying it's 'not safe' to ease the lockdown.
"That is not, let me stress, for any political reason, it is because the Scottish Government is not yet confident these changes can be made safely in Scotland yet without running the risk of the virus potentially running out of control again," Ms Sturgeon said.
"So Scotland's lockdown restrictions remain in place for now."
