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Boris Johnson to confirm easing of lockdown today – if 5 key tests are finally met
BORIS Johnson is set to confirm the easing of Britain's lockdown today - if the five tests are finally met.
The Prime Minister and his top team will get expert advice from the Government's scientists today to check if it's safe to start easing the measures.
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And at tonight's 5pm coronavirus press conference it's expected to be confirmed that schools will open from June 1, along with outdoor markets and car showrooms.
There may even be more news on when Britain can start meeting family and friends again.
At the moment only two people can meet up outside, but The Sun revealed this week two households will be able to have BBQs and garden parties in the coming weeks.
The PM wants to slowly get Britain back to normal over the next two months - but as long as everyone can still remain a safe distance apart.
Today is the date of the three-week review period, where ministers have to by law look again at the coronavirus laws.
Matt Hancock said today on the idea that people may be able to meet up with family soon: "I hope we will be able to make some further progress but I don't want to prejudge the formal decision we are taking late today on that.
"Today I have to formally review the rules on lockdown, you will be hearing later about that."
It came as:
- The nation's test and trace system went live across England, but was shrouded in shambles and IT issues from the start
- Cineworld and Odeon say they will open from July
- Matt Hancock this morning lifted hopes of a summer holiday this year, as he said he wouldn't rule out being able to jet abroad from July
And he urged Brits to be aware that many of the changes will likely be to things the public can do outside, dashing hopes for many of staying with family in the coming weeks.
He said this morning: "The good thing we have learned from the science is the risk of transmission outdoors is much lower than indoors.
"During the summer in particular a lot of changes you can expect to see [involve the fact] that outdoors is safer than indoors."
Earlier this week the Health Secretary suggested that four out of five lockdown tests had been met - thanks to a huge PPE deal.
The Health Secretary said that "significant progress" has been made on securing enough vital equipment to help keep Brits protected on the front line in hospitals and care homes.
Boris confirmed that three of them have passed earlier this month.
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The news comes as England's test and trace system comes into force today.
It means anyone who gets symptoms will be told to take a test and self-isolate at home.
They will then be asked to hand over details of everyone they have been in close contact with in the last 48 hours.
Those people will then be ordered to stay home for 14 days to make sure they don't pass on the virus.
Close contact is defined as within two metres for at least 15 minutes.
But already the scheme is off to a shambolic start - with tracers saying they were only told the system was going live last night.
Tracers have said it is "the blind leading the blind" and they don't have anyone who tested positive for coronavirus to call so they can get to work.
A huge number said they had not been sent login details which allowed them to access systems to start work and were instead sat at home with nothing to do.
Boris Johnson has hailed the scheme as they key to starting to lift lockdown measures for the rest of the country.
But it's not set to become fully operational for weeks to come.
If all goes well and the rate of transmission stays low, here's what's expected to be confirmed in the coming days and weeks.
June 1 - schools start to reopen to more pupils
The PM confirmed on Sunday that his plans for schools to open for reception, year one and year six will go ahead as planned if the R number has stayed below one.
And he said returning kids to their classrooms is crucial for their “health, welfare and long-term future”.
What are the five tests the UK needs to pass?
BORIS Johnson has said he expects the UK to be in a position to lift the lockdown from June 1.
He has already confirmed that three out of five tests have now been met.
1. NHS capacity to provide critical care and specialist treatment
This is an area that has already largely been met around the country, as hospitals begin to feel an ease of strain.
Field hospitals were set up to help them deal with this pressure, like the Nightingale Hospital at the London ExCel Arena, but these have mostly now all been stood down.
2. Sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths
The UK's daily death toll hit its peak on April 21 when nearly 1,200 people died in and out of hospital due to coronavirus.
But today just 134 people were reported to have died, a steady decline over the past few weeks.
3. Rate of infection decreasing to manageable levels
Ministers and health experts have used the national briefing to say that the numbers of deaths and cases is continuing to fall.
As long as that continues to be the case, tweaks can be made to lifting the lockdown from June 1.
4. Operational challenges such as testing and PPE and be able to meet future demand
This is one of the most pressing concerns at the moment with hospitals still looking to get their hands on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
NHS staff around the country have been pushing for the government to bring in more PPE, with some even needing to hold their breath and wear bin bags in their attempts to prevent from catching the virus.
But Mr Hancock now says that stockpiles are starting to be built up again, and enough equipment is in the bag to meet future demand.
5. Confident in changing the lockdown measures without a second peak to overwhelm the NHS
The final test is that the government and medical professionals must be certain that there will not be a risk of a second wave of infection, similar to that in Germany.
Professor Van-Tam said on May 4: "We have to be confident that the adjustments we contemplate are not going to risk a second peak of infections and this is really a matter of deep scientific discussion.
"It's one we are keeping under detailed scientific review as the days and weeks go by."
June 1 - markets and car showrooms open
Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to get back to business from June 1, the PM declared last weekend.
June 8 - 14 day quarantine for all Brits coming into the UK
Arrivals coming to the UK must quarantine for 2 weeks from June 8 with rule breakers set to face a £1,000 fine, Priti Patel said on Friday.
The Government will now ask all arrivals to give an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
June 15 - all non-essential businesses allowed to open
Fashion stores, betting shops and charity stores all allowed to welcome back customers in less than three weeks, new Government rules released yesterday said.
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At some time in June - social bubbles and BBQs
Brits are expected to be able to meet their friends and families again as garden parties and barbecues are set to be allowed in June.
The PM has said he wants to allow more social contact with others.
But they will have to pick one other to join with, and won't be able to chop and change around.
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July onwards - pubs, hairdressers and restaurants on course to open
Brits hoping for a pint in the sunshine may have to wait a bit longer, as the Government has said pubs and restaurants - along with hairdressers and cinemas - will not open until July 4 at "the earliest".
Hotels and other tourism hotspots like camping sites are also expected to be discussed for a possible July reopening.
Ministers will continue to review the lockdown rules every three weeks and tweak them if they think it's right.
But last night Boris said he might be able to do it quicker than he thought - giving hope pubs may be able to return sometime in June.
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Hope for pubs as Boris says hospitality industry could get back quicker than predicted - and the two metre rule can be reduced too
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