The coronavirus lockdown will be in place for a "significant period" and could last longer if people do not stick to the rules, Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said.

He acknowledged on Sunday the scale of the "sacrifice" the public is taking but said he could not make "an accurate prediction" on how long it must be endured.

But Mr Gove declined to say what the tougher rules could look like with the public confined to their homes for all but essential travel and for once-daily exercise.

"Everyone is making a sacrifice and I appreciate the scale of that sacrifice," he told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1.

"But the reason all of us are making these sacrifices is because all of us will have people whom we love who are at risk from this virus.

"I can't make an accurate prediction, but everyone does have to prepare for a significant period when these measures are still in place."

But the positive message he delivered was that the public appear to be heeding the advice.

"At the moment, all the evidence is that people are observing the rules, if you look at the number of people on public transport that has fallen, if you look at footfall in supermarkets and other stores, that has fallen as well," he said.

Meanwhile, the NHS received a huge boost from the public when it was announced volunteers to help in the crisis had hit 750,000 - three times the initially target.

A temporary halt was being placed on the scheme so the Royal Voluntary Service could process applications and get the scheme up and running.