A decision on whether to relax the two metre rule and allow pubs to re-open is to be made on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson making an announcement to MPs in the afternoon.
Mr Johnson will chair the C-19 Strategy Committee, which has led the Government's response to the crisis, on Tuesday morning.
Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, will both attend.
It will hear the latest scientific advice on whether it is safe to relax the two metre rule.
At the moment, people from different households are expected to stay two metres from each other at all times, but some businesses in the hospitality sector have said this will make it impossible for them to re-open.
The Committee will also consider the next stages for easing the lockdown, including whether pubs and restaurants should be allowed to re-open from July 4.
There will then be a full meeting of the Cabinet at around 10am, where a final decision will be made.
The Prime Minister will speak in Parliament in the afternoon, at around 12.30pm or later if the announcement is delayed by urgent business in the House of Commons.
Pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels, cinemas, hairdressers and more could be allowed to re-open after July 4.
Detailed guidance will be published for each sector so businesses that do open can be Covid Secure.
The Government says that the NHS Test and Trace system will be used to detect and control outbreaks through local lockdowns.
However, it also says that if there are widespread breaches of the rules resulting in the virus threatening to run out of control, this week’s easements will be the first to be reversed.
A No10 spokesperson said: “The reason we are able to move forward this week is because the vast majority of people have taken steps to contain the virus.
"The more we open up, the more important it is that everyone follows the social distancing rules.
"We will not hesitate to put the handbrake on to stop the virus running out of control."
