The Prime Minister is set to announce that England can go ahead with Stage 3 of the roadmap and lockdown can be eased, a key ally has confirmed.
It is thought that Boris Johnson will announced tomorrow, at a 5pm press conference, that easing can go ahead as planned on May 17.
Michael Gove said he 'anticipated' that the Prime Minister will make the announcement himself on Monday, the Mirror reports.
Stage 3 will allow people to meet indoors for the first time since New Year, in groups of six people and two households.
It will also mean pubs, restaurants and holiday accommodation will likely reopen under these conditions indoors, with groups of up to 30 allowed in outdoor settings.
Foreign travel will be allowed for the first time with no quarantine required to destinations on 'green list' countries.
Amber and red list countries will require quarantine on return.
Mr Johnson will also give an update on hugging between family and friends - where reports claim he could say embraces will be allowed in "common sense" situations for the first time since March 2020.
Meanwhile it's expected the limit of 30 mourners at funerals will be lifted from May 17, ahead of schedule. Weddings will still be restricted to 30 guests.
Cabinet Office minister Mr Gove told Sky News: “Thanks to the success of the UK vaccination programme, also the good sense of people across the UK, we can progressively relax measures.
“So I anticipate that the Prime Minister tomorrow will signal that we can enter the next stage of relaxation in England on May 17.
“And to add the Transport Secretary indicated yesterday, that means also that some of the rules on international travel are changing as well.”
