LOCKDOWN measures were eased today as Brits are now allowed to shop at non-essential stores for the first time since March.
Yet, face masks have also been made compulsory on public transport – and in the coronavirus press briefings this week, more could be revealed as the UK looks to phase out the restrictions.
The press conferences are held at 5pm every weekday.
They had been held on a daily basis since March 23, before recently stopping weekend briefings.
The conferences are held at 10 Downing Street, with members of the media and public posing questions via video link after the opening statements.
It is unclear who will lead today’s press briefing in Downing Street.
It is normally a senior MP, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chancellor Rishi Sunak among the regulars.
They are joined by up to two fellow Government officials, normally medical or scientific professionals.
Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, and top scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance have joined on numerous occasions.
Meanwhile, Professor Jonathan Van Tam, Dr Jenny Harries and NHS’s national medical director for England, Stephen Powis has also regularly appeared.
The press conference will be shown on most news channels, including BBC One and Sky News.
You will also be able to catch it online on BBC iPlayer.
Alternatively, you can follow our dedicated live blog for all the latest information.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed in the last press conference that the Government is working on travel corridors.
These would allow Brits to go on holiday abroad this year without having to quarantine for 14 days upon their return.
He said: “That’s something we’re actively working on.
“As I’ve said before, air-bridges or travel corridors might be a potential way forward supplemented by things like testing.
“There’s clearly countries that have lower levels of infection but that may be they are yet to go into this rather than come out.
“We won’t throw away the good work that’s been done [to get the virus under control].
“We will only open up air bridges where it is safe to do so, and there will be more on that at the review period which is the 29 of June.”
Shapps also reaffirmed his backing for the 14-day travel quarantine rules, where people could be fined £1,000 for breaking them.
He also hinted that air bridges across the globe might not happen all at once.
Meanwhile, Shapps and NHS’s Powis reiterated that the R rate – for coronavirus rate of infection – remains below 1.
