Social isolation measures will need to be in place for most of the year, experts have told the Government.
The advice was issued to the Government on Monday to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak but has only been shared today as part of evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
The scientists also advised ministers that, while the severity of measures could alternate during the period, the "stricter" measures would need to be enforced for at least half of the year.
The Government published the advice on Friday - a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he expects the tide to be turned in the fight against Covid-19 within 12 weeks.
A report by the scientific pandemic influenza group on modelling states: "It was agreed that the addition of both general social distancing and school closures to case isolation, household isolation and social distancing of vulnerable groups would be likely to control the epidemic when kept in place for a long period.
"It was agreed that a policy of alternating between periods of more and less strict social distancing measures could plausibly be effective at keeping the number of critical care cases within capacity.
"These would need to be in place for at least most of a year. Under such as policy, at least half of the year would be spent under the stricter social distancing measures."
The advice says that triggers for controls to be imposed or lifted could be set at a level of UK nations and regions which suggests more stringent measures could be enforced in London, where the disease is at its most rampant.
The advice said the measures that would need to be in place for "a long period" would include general social distancing, school closures and household isolation. But the Prime Minister told the nation on Thursday: "I think, looking at it all, that we can turn the tide within the next 12 weeks and I'm absolutely confident that we can send coronavirus packing in this country."
