18,000 people to be recruited for coronavirus contact tracing

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that testing and tracing would form a major part of the Government's strategy.

The daily Downing Street briefing was told tonight that a total of 500,000 swab tests for the virus had now been carried out.

And the Government is to make it easier and faster for key workers to be tested, with appointments available via a website from tomorrow.

The briefing was told that 616 people had died in the UK since Wednesday.

Mr Hancock said the restrictions put in place were working and the thanked the British people for their patience.

Earlier, Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said some coronavirus restrictions could be kept in place for the rest of the year or longer

Ms Sturgeon was speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing as the Scottish Government published a report pledging an easing of the lockdown measures will be "conducted in a phased and careful manner".

She stressed people will need to "find a way to live with this virus".

Mr Hancock was questioned more than once about Ms Sturgeon's earlier statements about restrictions in Scotland and asked to clarify the Government's position.

He said he understood the "thirst for knowledge"but stressed that restrictions would only be lifted once all the Government's five tests were met.

He put no timescale on the restrictions, and added that the measures to date were "flattening the curve".

"We are absolutely determined to avoid a second peak," he added