Boris Johnson will lead a Downing Street press conference on coronavirus on Wednesday afternoon.
The Prime Minister will deliver an update from the No10 podium as the Government faces criticism for prison sentences of up to 10 years for Brits who try to dodge strict new quarantine rules.
Mr Johnson has refused to guarantee that England’s schoolchildren will return to class on March 8.
The Prime Minister has targeted that date for the return of schools because those most at risk of dying from coronavirus will have received protection from a first dose of vaccine by then.
But at Prime Minister’s Questions Mr Johnson was not able to say that all children will return, nor that the March 8 date would be met.
He insisted “we’re going to do everything we can” to get children back in class on March 8 “if we possibly can”.
But he said it was important to keep coronavirus under control and “we cannot take our foot of its throat”.
Mr Johnson was challenged by Tory MP Julian Sturdy to confirm that “all students” will be back in school no later than March 8 and called on the Government to commit to starting any phased return “straight after half-term”.
That would mean the “really damaging effects of being away from school are not drawn out for any longer than is absolutely necessary”.
The devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have both said they hope to begin phased reopenings of schools after half-term, from February 22.
Mr Johnson said: “I can certainly confirm that we’re going to do everything we can – I know that that is the settled will of most people in this House – to get our kids, get schoolchildren back on March 8 if we possibly can.”
England’s lockdown will be reviewed on February 15 and the Prime Minister has promised a “road map” for the route out of it – including the way forward for schools – in the week of February 22.
But he added: “We have got to make sure we keep this virus under control. It is coming down but we cannot take our foot of its throat.”
During the lockdown, schools have been closed to pupils except for the children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters, with home learning for all others.
The briefing is expected at 5pm.
