Professor Chris Whitty has suggested that lockdown measures could be needed until “some time in the spring” to stem the spread of the virus.
Lockdown in England started last week and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it should last until the middle of February.
But the legislation allows for the rules to stay in place until March 31.
Experts have said the rules may be needed for 12 weeks - into April - and the Government is reported to be considering keeping pubs shut until May.
“We’ve got to make this sustainable because we got to be able to maintain this for several more weeks now,” England’s chief medical officer told BBC Breakfast.
“We’re really going to have to do a significant action for all of us for several more weeks until probably some time in the spring for very much of what we have to do.
“So, we do obviously need to be able to do essential work which they can’t do from home. We fully accept that that’s necessary to keep society going because you’ve got to be able to do it over a period of time.
“So, the three things that people can leave home for are essential work where they can’t do it from home, when they are doing exercise – which is very important for people’s physical health, their mental health – and for essential things like shopping or medical intervention.”Professor Chris Whitty suggested that measures could be needed until “some time in the spring” to stem the spread of the virus.
“We’ve got to make this sustainable because we got to be able to maintain this for several more weeks now,” England’s chief medical officer told BBC Breakfast.
“We’re really going to have to do a significant action for all of us for several more weeks until probably some time in the spring for very much of what we have to do.
“So, we do obviously need to be able to do essential work which they can’t do from home. We fully accept that that’s necessary to keep society going because you’ve got to be able to do it over a period of time.
“So, the three things that people can leave home for are essential work where they can’t do it from home, when they are doing exercise – which is very important for people’s physical health, their mental health – and for essential things like shopping or medical intervention.”
Spring in the Uk starts on March 20.
