Boris Johnson has vowed to end social distancing by this time next year, as he spoke at the Conservative party conference.
The Prime Minister delivered a virtual speech to party members and said to them he expected them to be able to meet "face to face and cheek by jowl" at next year's event in October 2021.
He said: "I don't know about you but I have had more than enough of this disease that attacks not only human beings but so many of the greatest things about our country; our pubs, our clubs, our football, our theatre and all the gossipy gregariousness and love of human contact that drives the creativity of our economy.
"I can tell you that your government is working night and day to repel this virus, and we will succeed, just as this country has seen off every alien invader for the last thousand years and we will succeed by collective effort.
"By following the guidance and with the help of weekly and almost daily improvements in the medicine and the science, we will ensure that next time we meet it will be face to face and cheek by jowl.
"We are working for the day when life will be back to normal, flying in a plane will be back to normal, and hairdressers will no longer look as though they are handling radioactive isotopes, and when we can go and see our loved ones in care homes, and when we no longer have to greet each other by touching elbows as in some giant national version of the Birdie dance."
Mr Johnson had wanted 'normality' by Christmas, but this is looking more unlikely as cases continue to rise across the country.
The latest weekly infection figures showing that Manchester's rate has soared, with 2,927 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 2 - the equivalent of 529.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Knowsley and Liverpool have the second and third highest rates, at 498.5 and 487.1 respectively.
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Other areas recording big jumps in their seven-day rates include Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham and Leeds.
Sheffield's rate shot up from 100.9 to 286.6 and figures from the University of Sheffield's Covid-19 statistics web page showed nearly 500 students and staff had tested positive since the start of the autumn term last week.
