New lockdown plans 'to be announced tomorrow'

The government is expected to announce a review of lockdown at the daily press briefing tomorrow, which is likely to give the all-clear for schools to begin reopening next week.

Downing Street said the announcement on lockdown plans would happen after ministers consider advice from Sage – the group of advisers responsible for giving scientific information to the government during times of crisis.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told to a Westminster briefing: ‘Cabinet has discussed the road map and the decision which the Government would like to implement on the proviso that it’s in line with the five tests and any package we bring forward wouldn’t risk a second spike in the virus that would overwhelm the NHS.’

A further Cabinet meeting was not expected on Thursday, he added.

The lockdown in England has been gradually eased, with open air marks and car showrooms the next to reopen on Monday.

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Following this, non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen on June 15 on the condition that the virus death tolls and infection rates continue to fall.

However, people are still unable to visit others’ homes, and are only allowed to meet one other person at a time in an outdoor public area such as a park.

Unlimited exercise is now allowed, while people are able to drive elsewhere in the country while previously the advise was to stay local.

The Prime Minister has said it is his ‘intention’ for schools to begin resuming with Reception and Years 1 and 6 from Monday, despite safety concerns from teaching unions.

But his official spokesman said that the final decision before the three-week legal deadline will not be made until after ministers consider further evidence from the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage).

However, on Wednesday, he added: ‘That formal review will happen tomorrow and we are hopeful, without prejudging it, that we will be able to proceed with the reopening of schools on June 1.’

Cabinet was not expected to meet again ahead of the announcement, but the spokesman said they had already discussed the desired changes that will be introduced as long as they do not risk a spike in infections that could overwhelm the NHS.

It was understood that plans to ease the social restrictions to permit people to see a greater number of their family or friends outside may be not be unveiled until after Thursday.

Downing Street insiders were suggesting the easing discussed by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove was still dependent on the scientific advice, as was the use of private gardens for socialising.

The road map to easing the lockdown contained the possibility one household could form a social ‘bubble’ with one other in a mutual group, but it was understood that term was being quietly dropped.

With deaths linked to coronavirus in the UK reaching at least 47,300, Mr Johnson has been dogged by allegations that he acted too late.

His spokesman was forced to deny that Mr Johnson had announced the schools plan on Sunday to distract from the alleged lockdown breaches by his top aide, Dominic Cummings.

Key to ensuring the restrictions can be safely relaxed is keeping down the so-called R value, the average number of people an infected individual transmits the disease to.

If that figure goes above one, then Covid-19 could spread throughout society exponentially.

The test and trace programme to ensure people who have been potentially infected self-isolate will be relaunched on Monday after ministers halted it in mid-March.

Mr Johnson has pledged to ensure there is the capacity to carry out 200,000 coronavirus tests per day by Monday to ensure the scheme can work effectively.

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