Young people not living with their parents could be freed from coronavirus lockdown rules first under plans being considered by the government.
A senior medic today confirmed the measure is being "considered" by UK health officials.
Professor Paul Cosford, medical director for Public Health England, stressed there remained an "awfully long way to go" before the easing of social distancing restrictions, however.
He was commenting after a report by Warwick University argued young adults living away from their parents faced the lowest risk from the virus, but were the most financially hit.
The paper, written by the economics and behavioural science department, says some four million people in the UK aged between 20 and 30 should resume a 'semi-normal life' as part of Britain's exit strategy.
Prof Cosford confirmed plans to release younger people from lockdown are being looked at.
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "All those are sort of things that will need to be considered and are being considered."
He also touched on when schools would reopen following speculation this would come following the Easter break, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Asked if they could reopen as part of the first wave in easing restrictions, he said: "The importance of children’s education and children being in school is paramount.
“Maybe. Some countries are looking at that. Other countries are looking at different ways of doing this.”
However Prof Cosford, along with other health officials and senior ministers, warned the country still has an "awfully long way to go" before social distancing measures are lifted.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, also on Friday morning, Dr Cosford called for people to stay at home over the Easter Bank Holiday as he said the current impact from lockdown is working.
"People are complying [with the measures] in a very large majority and the impact that is having is that transmission is much, much less than it would otherwise be," he said.
"The most important thing now is we continue [to stay at home] so we can get through the peak and come down the other side."
NHS England’s national medical director, Stephen Powis, echoed his colleague's comments about staying indoors, but added social distancing measures would not be eased until the number of coronavirus-related deaths began to fall.
He warned it could he “one or two” weeks away.
He told BBC Breakfast: "Clearly we want to see deaths falling, and I think that could be a week or two yet.
"We want to see pressure on the NHS not building any more, we want to see fewer people on intensive care units and admitted to hospital with the virus. We want to see evidence that the virus is not spreading as much in the community."
