Boris Johnson has announced a press conference for Tuesday afternoon.
The Prime Minister will address the nation at 5pm, live from Downing Street, on the first anniversary of the first Covid lockdown.
The briefing from no.10 will be available on all major news channels like BBC and Sky News as well as being lived streamed on social media sites like Facebook and YouTube.
The PM will also give a coronavirus update to the nation.
Here is what he is likely to say.
Covid lockdown anniversary
Boris Johnson has said coronavirus restrictions are being eased “once and for all” as the UK marks the anniversary of the first national lockdown.
The Prime Minister offered his “sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones” and praised the “great spirit” displayed ahead of the nation pausing in remembrance on Tuesday.
He is likely to echo that message later today when he speaks to the nation and ask the nation to persevere with an end to lockdown on the horizon.
Europe’s third wave
The Prime Minister will likely urge the nation to stick to the rules and receive their jab when offered.
Boris Johnson has already expressed concern over the third wave of coronavirus cases spreading across Europe expecting the wave to “wash up on our shores as well”.
He said it demonstrated the need to press ahead with the vaccination programme and stressed the importance of international co-operation as diplomatic efforts continued to defuse a row between the UK and European Union over vaccine supplies.
Vaccine supplies
The Prime Minister has spoken with European leaders this week urging them to dismiss any proposals to block Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine exports to the UK.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU has the power to “forbid” exports, adding: “That is the message to AstraZeneca.”
This comes as frustrations begin to grow in the EU due to it not getting the supplies it expected from the British-Swedish manufacturer.
European leaders have recently faced criticism regarding the slow pace of the vaccine rollout on the continent, with less than 12 per cent of the EU's population reported to have received the vaccine, compared with a nearly 40 per cent vaccination rate in the UK.
On Monday, Mr Johnson said conversations with European leaders had assured him that Brussels did not want to ban vaccine exports to the UK.
Speaking at BAE Systems in Preston to broadcasters, the Prime Minister said: “I’m reassured by talking to EU partners over the last few months that they don’t want to see blockades, I think that’s very important.
“Clearly what matters to us in the UK is we get on with the rollout of the vaccine programme.
“I think we’ve now done over half the adults in the country, which is very good news.
“We’re on course to do everybody in priority groups 1-4, they’ve been done, but groups 1-9, all the over 50s, by April 15 and then we’ll just bash on with the road map we’ve set out.”
Vaccine rollout update
Over 30 MILLION vaccines have now been delivered across the whole UK 🇬🇧
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 22, 2021
The vaccine roll-out is showing the best of Britain - THANK YOU to the team involved. pic.twitter.com/YGV7llxyGQ
On Monday, Government data up to March 21 showed that of the 30,279,360 jabs given in the UK so far, 27,997,976 were first doses – a rise of 367,006 on the previous day.
Some 2,281,384 were second doses, an increase of 52,612, with the Prime Minister likely to provide an update.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock thanked those involved in the vaccine rollout after the total number of doses administered passed 30 million.
He said on Twitter: “Over 30 MILLION vaccines have now been delivered across the whole UK. The vaccine roll-out is showing the best of Britain – THANK YOU to the team involved.”
Road map update.
A further easing of lockdown restrictions is planned for next week with the second phase of Boris Johnson’s road map expected to begin.
From Monday 29 March, groups of up to six people will be allowed to gather outside in parks or public gardens.
Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts are also set to reopen, with organised adult and children’s sport – including grassroots football – able to return.
From Monday, the “stay at home” order will also end and the Government will instead encourage people to stay local where possible.
But progressing along the “road map” will depend on meeting four tests: the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence of vaccine efficacy, an assessment of new variants, and keeping infection rates below a level that could put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
Mr Johnson and his government ministers have made it clear that these dates are subject to change based on the data, but stage one of the process went ahead on schedule earlier this month.
That means there is a chance that the planned 29 March easing may not happen, if the four tests are not met.
Ministers have stressed in the face of recent news of vaccine supply issues to the UK that the road map plans remain unaffected, and it is expected Boris Johnson could provide an update on this.
Coronavirus Act extension
Downing Street has defended plans to renew the Coronavirus Act’s emergency measures for six months.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Coronavirus Act needs a renewal vote every six months, that will mean this is the second such vote.”
MPs are due to vote on the renewal of the Act on Thursday, along with measures to put the Government’s road map for restrictions in England into effect.
The spokesman said an extension of the Act was needed to allow furlough payments to continue, “vital court hearings” to proceed and measures including the extension of sick pay provision for “as long as they are needed”.
Coronavirus update
Boris Johnson will update the nation on coronavirus figures in the UK.
As of Monday, the government said a further 17 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday – the lowest daily figure since September 28.
It brings the UK total to 126,172.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 149,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
The Government also said that, as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 5,342 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.
It brings the total to 4,301,925.
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