Over the last week Boris Johnson has been working through the data on coronavirus deaths, cases and hospital admissions as he prepares to unveil his road map to relax lockdown restrictions in England.
The prime minister has also been considering the effect of the country’s various lockdown measures and the vaccine rollout in advance of unveiling his blueprint to parliament on Monday.
Here’s a look at how the day will unfold.
When will the prime minister announce his plans?
Mr Johnson will unveil the plans to MPs in the Commons at around 3.30pm on Monday.
Later in the day, at around 7pm, he will lead a Downing Street press conference.
What can we expect from the announcement?
The prime minister will tell MPs that all pupils in all years in England can go back to the classroom from 8 March, with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed to restart as well.
Socialising in parks and public spaces with one other person will also be permitted in a fortnight, when the rules are relaxed to allow people to sit down for a drink or picnic.
A further easing of restrictions will take place on 29 March when the school Easter holidays begin – with larger groups allowed to gather in parks and gardens.
The moves form the first step in a four-part plan, which will not be completed until the summer – with around five weeks between stages expected to assess the impact on the spread of the virus and prepare businesses for the next move.
By the Easter holidays the “rule of six” will return, along with new measures allowing two households totalling more than six people to meet – giving greater flexibility for families and friends.
The government’s plan also contains an expedited target to vaccinate all adults aged over 50, in addition to those with underlying health conditions which put them at greater risk, by 15 April.
Mr Johnson has pledged to offer all adults in the UK a vaccine by the end of July.
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What will the government use to dictate the speed of the unlocking?
The roadmap for easing coronavirus restrictions will involve four tests that have to be met before any unlocking can begin:
- The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of the virus
The government will use the metrics in England to assess the impact of loosening the rules at each stage.
If any of the conditions are not met, the pace of the unlocking could be slowed.
What has Mr Johnson said about his plans?
Mr Johnson has said there will be “no let up” in the vaccine rollout and said he wanted it to go “further and faster in the coming weeks”.
“We will now aim to offer a jab to every adult by the end of July, helping us protect the most vulnerable sooner, and take further steps to ease some of the restrictions in place,” he said.
“But there should be no doubt – the route out of lockdown will be cautious and phased, as we all continue to protect ourselves and those around us.”
Additional reporting by agencies
