Boris Johnson to hold press conference as four people die from Indian variant

The Prime Minister will address the nation at 5pm alongside England's chief medical officer professor Chris Whitty.

The press conference will be aired on all major news channels and streamed on social media channels.

Here is what he is likely to say.

Indian variant.

Boris Johnson is expected to discuss the spread of the Indian variant of Covid-19 after government data revealed four people in the UK have died after contracting the new variant.

While Covid-19 cases in most areas of the UK are at their lowest levels since August last year, there are concerns the Indian variant could see cases jump back up.

At present, there is no evidence the B16172 variant is resistant to current vaccines.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the situation was being monitored carefully and the Government “will not hesitate to take further action if necessary”.

The Prime Minister has said there is "increasing concern" about the variant and warned the emergence of further new variants "pose a potentially lethal danger".

Lockdown roadmap update

With restriction set to be lifted even further from Monday the Prime Minister is likely to reiterate the need for caution.

The UK Government has confirmed that Step 3 of the lockdown roadmap in England will take place on May 17, following a further review of the data and four key tests.

This will include the reopening of:

• indoor hospitality, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain
• remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas
• indoor entertainment, such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas
• remaining accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs
• adult indoor group sports and exercise classes
• some large events, including conferences, theatre and concert performances and sports events. Controlled indoor events of up to 1,000 people, or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity (whichever is lower) will be allowed, as will outdoor events with a capacity of either 4,000 or 50 per cent capacity. The Government will also make a special provision for large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or 25 per cent of total seated capacity.
• international travel, subject to review

Coronavirus cases update.

Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty will provide an update on the latest government figures.

Around one in 1,340 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to May 8 – down from one in 1,180 the previous week, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It is the lowest figure since the week to September 5 2020, when the estimate stood at one in 1,400.

In Wales, around one in 4,230 is estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to May 8 – down from one in 2,070 in the previous week, and the lowest since ONS estimates began in late July 2020.

In Northern Ireland, the estimate is around one in 1,430 people, down from one in 750 in the previous week.

The estimate for Scotland is around one in 1,250, down from one in 760 and the lowest since estimates began for Scotland in October.