Coronavirus live updates: lockdown exit could take months according to experts

The UK should take a slow approach to coming out of lockdown and reopen sectors one-by-one to ensure coronavirus does not begin rapidly transmitting again, experts have said.

Schools could reopen and if infection rates stayed low, then another sector - such as restaurants - could be unlocked, it was suggested.

But if infection rates surged then officials would have to consider locking down sectors again, experts told a webinar for the think tank Chatham House.

This could be different sectors or geographic regions where the risk of transmission was low.

But a gradual process could take months and may see the UK follow the Swedish model.

The Government has expanded its criteria for those who can be tested for coronavirus.

From today, testing will be available to all front line workers in health and social care, even if they are not displaying symptoms.

Testing will also be expanded to NHS patients and residents in care homes regardless of whether they have symptoms.

All other essential workers, and the people they live with, can get tested if they have symptoms.

People aged over 65 and their households can get tested if they are showing symptoms, as well as anyone who goes into work because they cannot work from home and their households if they have symptoms.

On Wednesday, April 29, figures from NHS England confirmed that a total of 462 people who had tested positive for coronavirus have died across South Yorkshire’s hospital trusts.

Across the region the number of confirmed coronavirus cases stands at 3,665.

Scroll down and refresh for the latest updates as they happen throughout the day.