The Government is prioritising ending social distancing rules over those relating to face masks and work from home, and advisers have warned that unlocking will be a "gradual process" even if the June 21st date is met.
There was another rise in positive tests today, which passed 4,000 for the first time since April, but reported Covid deaths remained flat with just 10 victims.
New polling suggests that over 50% of Brits have not yet cuddled a loved one since the easing of restrictions last week which "allowed" them to do so and that only a fifth are planning on holidaying abroad this summer.
The Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine has been approved for use in the U.K. after regulators initially held back on adding it to the national vaccine rollout because of its link to blood clots.
Michael Gove said yesterday that plans for vaccine passports could still be dropped – but ministers have already signed several vaccine ID contracts, including one worth up to £21 million that can be renewed each year.
The average age of newly infected Brits has fallen from 41 at the beginning of the year to just 29 – the lowest average age recorded yet.
Following further pressure from SAGE on delaying Britain's unlock, the Prime Minister has said that Number 10 may have to "wait" for more data before pushing ahead with ending the lockdown.
More than 28 million people booked appointments with their GP in March making it one of the busiest months ever, and practices expect to remain this busy for some time due to the patient backlog caused by lockdowns.
Last year, many journalists dismissed the Covid lab-leak theory as conspiratorial nonsense. But if we are to avoid another pandemic, we must take the theory more seriously and ensure it is investigated, says Matt Ridley.
Northern Ireland has become the first part of the U.K. to offer appointments for Covid vaccines – including that made by AstraZeneca – to its entire adult population.
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