His message came as the daily UK death toll fell to 413, the lowest since March 31.
The Foreign Secretary said it would be “inconceivable” for schools to reopen to all children without coming up with ways to impose social distancing.
This could mean kids alternating between going to school and working from home to avoid overcrowding, under one plan floated by teachers.
The number of patients in UK hospitals with the bug dropped by 458 yesterday to under 16,000. The overall number of UK deaths is now 20,732.
Boris Johnson — who is back to work at No10 today after recovering from coronavirus — will decide whether to ease the lockdown on May 7.
But Mr Raab, right, said we are at a “delicate and dangerous stage” of the crisis. The UK must make sure its next steps are “sure footed” and “cautious”, he warned.
He said: “It won’t just be going back. It will be a new normal, if you like, with social distancing adapted to areas which are currently closed.”
NHS medical director Prof Stephen Powis said the reduction in fatalities was down to the nation sticking to the lockdown rules.
He said: “Those benefits have occurred not by luck, but because people have complied with instructions.”
He said easing restrictions could undo these efforts.
