Researchers have suggested that bars and restaurants should remain closed until May – and their comments sparked a reaction from readers of The Mail.

They warned that reopening society too quickly could have a "disastrous" effect.

Gill Mcphillips said: “The pub is the safest place I’ve been since last March.

Tim Ford said: “There won’t be any left by then.

"Sad truth is most of hospitality is barely hanging on.

"The big chains may survive. All the little independents will go, along with their owners houses and livelihoods.

"The current support is doing nothing to save the sector.”

Karen Edmondson said: “I went to the pub for my birthday meal and a drink I was safer in there than I am when I go food shopping.” Graham Linney said: “Never has it risen so much since they closed and removed a Covid-friendly environment.

"Open them sooner and stops house parties. That is a fact!”

Alex Rayment said: “Back in the summer if the Government had done a zero covid strategy like east Asian countries, China, Vietnam, Thailand, etc.. and New Zealand and Australia our pubs could have been open since since last summer and until now.

"Will the Government waste another spring and summer when elimination is possible once again?

"How many more lockdowns and how many more deaths will it take for the UK Government to change their strategy and save lives and the economy?

"The Government’s fatalism that coronavirus cannot be eliminated within the UK borders has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, trapping us all in a cycle of lockdown-release indefinitely.”