Britain's finance minister, Rishi Sunak, says he doesn't accept the idea of choosing between protecting the economy and protecting public health, after a government office suggested the economy could retract by as much as 35%.
Cannot protect 'every household' from recession: UK finance minister
The UK's Office for Budget Responsibility said earlier on Tuesday (April 14) that such a retraction could hit by as early as June, but stressed that it was not making an official forecast given uncertainties over how long the country's lockdown may last.
"While those economic impacts are significant, the OBR also expect them to be temporary where they bounce back in growth.
The second point I want to make is that we're not going just going to stand by and let this happen," he said.
One scenario, according to the OBR, could make it the deepest recession in centuries.
A separate International Monetary Fund report says that it expects the British economy to shrink 6.5% in 2020.