An expert panel will assess all the available science and lessons learned from other countries to provide advice in the next few days and weeks on how the current lockdown measures might be eased.

This is an unprecedented investigation for an unprecedented crisis.

Normally these kinds of analyses take months, if not years. This one will publish its findings to the public online shortly after the experts come to their conclusions.

In the coming weeks, they will aim to provide an assessment on the use of masks, whether the virus is less dangerous in the summer, and also to attempt to determine the impact of allowing children to go back to school. It will also look into the various options for safely easing social distancing measures.

The publication of its findings in the days and weeks to come means that there will be a public discussion about how lockdown measures might be lifted - even if the government isn’t yet ready to set out its ideas.