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about the next easing, to begin on May 17, comes as the country's
chief medical officers lowered the COVID-19 alert level, meaning
that an epidemic is in general circulation but transmission is no
longer high or rising exponentially.
In a statement, the medical officers said social distancing and the
rapid vaccine rollout had helped to bring coronavirus cases and
daily deaths down sharply.
"However COVID is still circulating with people catching and
spreading the virus every day, so we all need to continue to be
vigilant," they said. "This remains a major pandemic globally."
Britain is in the process of gradually lifting its latest lockdown
over a period of months, in line with a four-step plan unveiled in
February.
Under Step 3, from May 17 people will be permitted to meet up
indoors for the first time in months, in groups of up to six people
or two full households together.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to host customers indoors,
also for the first time in months and subject to certain rules.
Other indoor entertainment like cinemas and sports venues will also
be able to resume activity.
Johnson's Downing Street office said the latest data on COVID-19
vaccinations, on infections, hospitalisations and deaths, and on the
risk posed by new variants, had been taken into account in deciding
to move forward with Step 3.
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"The data reflects what we already knew - we are not going to let
this virus beat us," Johnson said, according to the statement.
"The roadmap remains on track, our successful vaccination programme
continues - more than two-thirds of adults in the UK have now had
the first vaccine - and we can now look forward to unlocking
cautiously but irreversibly."
The government is also expected to say whether the rules around
social distancing with friends and family can ease, prompting
headlines about "cautious hugging".
Junior minister Nadine Dorries was asked by the BBC if people would
be told to hug each other cautiously. "I don't think you can
cautiously cuddle but the prime minister is going to make the
announcement this afternoon," she said.
The reopening will apply to England only, with the semi-autonomous
governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales setting out
their own rules.
According to Johns Hopkins data, Britain has the fifth highest death
toll in the world from COVID-19 with 127,605 fatalities. Two-thirds
of adults in the United Kingdom have had a first vaccine and
one-third have had both doses.
(Additional reporting by Estelle Shirbon Editing by Janet
Lawrence/Mark Heinrich)
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