HOPE GROWS
Zero Covid deaths in England for first time since last JULY with just four across UK in past 24 hours
NO Covid deaths were recorded in England in the last 24 hours - for the first time in more than nine months.
The whole of the UK reported just four fatalities from the bug today, all of which were in Wales.
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It is the first time England has not recorded any coronavirus deaths in a day since July 30 last year, after the first wave of the pandemic.
Another 2,357 new infections were confirmed in Britain - up on the figure recorded last Monday (1,649).
It means a total of 4,437,217 people have now tested positive while 127,609 have died from the bug since the start of the pandemic.
It comes as Boris tonight announced the biggest unlocking yet from May 17:
- Rules for pubs and restaurants will be relaxed so people can meet up to six inside, and 30 outside
- Holidays will be legal again - and the £5,000 fines will be dropped
- Hugging between friends and family will be given the nod, as social distancing could be scrapped next month
- Hotels, cinemas, indoor play areas and other attractions are allowed to reopen finally
- Schoolkids will no longer have to wear masks in class
- But weddings will still have a 30 person cap, despite funerals having their rules lifted
- The casual sex ban will finally be over as Brits can get close again, and stay over at each other's homes
- Working from home should continue if people can
- Sports events can allow up to 10,000 fans in easing of rules in stadiums
The latest figures come after the Covid alert level dropped from 4 to 3 earlier today, with experts saying the roadmap out of lockdown should be accelerated.
Boris tonight confirmed he will rip up countless Covid rules next week as he presses ahead with his roadmap, thanks to the smashing vaccine rollout.
In the biggest unlocking yet, the PM promised that indoor pints, hugs and holidays will FINALLY be back on in England from May 17 - taking Brits closer to post-Covid freedom.
Boris vowed tonight that the data was on track to lift more lockdown rules without the risk of cases soaring in the "single biggest step on our roadmap".
UNLOCKING BRITAIN
The four tests have been met, which means he can proceed with stage three of his roadmap to unlocking England in a week's time.
Infection rates are now at their lowest levels since September, and hospital admissions continue to go down.
The vaccine rollout continues to boom, with all adults on track for a first dose by July.
This morning, health minister Nadine Dorries said the country is now "in a really good position" thanks to the vaccine rollout and mass testing.
She declared "it does look as though the roadmap is on course", but stressed restrictions will be eased "with caution, ensuring the data is in place".
The minister hinted roadmap dates - to be announced by Boris Johnson this afternoon - could be brought forward after being questioned over the government's aim of following "data not dates", now that the data is looking good.
It comes as new Public Health England data show two shots of the Pfizer jab slash the risk of Covid death by 97 per cent.
And for the first time, PHE has confirmed that one dose of the AstraZeneca jab cuts a person’s chances of being killed by Covid by 80 per cent. The figure is the same for a single shot of Pfizer vaccine.
MPs and scientists have been pushing for a quicker return to normality following such great progress, with Professor Carl Heneghan, director at the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford, one of them.
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He told The Telegraph: "I think at some point we've got to get back to a normality and see what happens. And we want to do that when it's summer and infections are low."
And Professor Sir John Bell said the nation is now in a "very strong position" to move forward with the easing of restrictions which will enable people to "try and get back to normal".
A third of the country has now had two jabs, the Prime Minister revealed yesterday, giving those calling for a faster end to lockdown a stronger position.
Mrs Dorries was asked whether the positive data on numbers of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths might even mean the PM could speed up the final exit from lockdown on June 21.
She replied: "You'll have to wait until the PM makes an announcement this afternoon, but it is data not dates and the data is looking good and we know that.
"And I hope the PM will be making a positive announcement this afternoon, I'm sure it will be, and it will be based on the data."
The move to decrease the Covid alert level indicates the data is encouraging, with pressures on the NHS having "fallen consistently", and deaths dropping.
Experts agreed the record-breaking vaccine rollout has dramatically helped the country beat back the virus, with the threat no longer as great.
UK health chiefs said today: "Following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and in the light of the most recent data, the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National Medical Director agree that the UK alert level should move from level 4 to level 3.
Level 3 means the "epidemic is in general circulation", and transmission is no longer "high or rising exponentially".
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“Thanks to the efforts of the UK public in social distancing and the impact we are starting to see from the vaccination programme, case numbers, deaths and Covid hospital pressures have fallen consistently.
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"However Covid is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day so we all need to continue to be vigilant. This remains a major pandemic globally.
“It is very important that we all continue to follow the guidance closely and everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered it.”
Boris Johnson set to reveal 11 Covid lockdown changes to give Brits a taste of freedom.