Boris Johnson and Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty have both warned that Britain will suffer another surge of COVID-19 as restrictions are eased but said it will not change the plan out of lockdown.

The Times reported that the prime minister told Conservative MPs that a third wave coming from Europe was “inevitable”.  However, he insisted that “we are prepared” and there was “no reason to deviate” from the unlocking road map he set out last month. He hailed the success of the vaccine rollout as a reason to persist with the existing timetable even if cases rise again.

MPs are due to vote on the steps Regulations today and the Government is expected to confirm the first step will commence as planned on the 29^th of March when:

• outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed
• Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports
• The ‘stay at home’ rule will end