Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was on track to lift pandemic restrictions entirely over the next three months and hoped that he would not need to put Britain into lockdown again.
With infection rates at their lowest in six months, there is nothing in the data so far to suggest the government would need to keep restrictions in place for longer than planned, Mr Johnson said in televised comments on Monday.
But he and his chief pandemic advisers warned that the biggest threat to the UK’s return to normality would be the emergence of vaccine-resistant strains of coronavirus that could be imported from other countries.
Under the government’s road map for lifting England's third lockdown, people can now meet in larger groups outside and resume outdoor swimming and organised sport.
From April 12, non-essential retail will reopen, while pubs and restaurants will be allowed to serve customers at tables outside.
By June 21, ministers aim to end all curbs and social distancing guidelines.
“I’m hopeful,” Mr Johnson said. “I don’t see anything in the data right now that would cause us to deviate from the road map.
"But, you know, we’ve got to remain humble in the face of nature, and we’ve got to be prepared to do whatever it takes to protect the British public, which has been our approach throughout.”
The UK has vaccinated more than 30 million adults, including almost all of the most vulnerable groups.
The inoculation programme is far outpacing that of other countries in Europe.
Mr Johnson announced a plan to further boost British vaccine self-sufficiency, amid tension with the EU over supplies.
