The government is relaxing the shielding restrictions for millions of the most vulnerable people - despite the UK threat level remaining at four on the official scale.
More than two million clinically extremely vulnerable people in England who have been shielding since March will finally be allowed to spend time with other people outdoors.
Many of those had expected not to be able to leave the house until June and many charities have said the change has come suddenly without enough explanation of the reasoning behind the decision.
Those in this category who live alone can meet outside with one other person from another household.
The easing of restrictions for those shielding follows criticism that this group had been left feeling "forgotten".
Phil Anderson, head of policy at the MS Society, said people would want to hear the scientific evidence behind the decision, which he described as having "come out of the blue"
Earlier today Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the restrictions were being relaxed because the curve has been flattened and new infections have been reduced.
But the UK remains at level four on the government's own scale despite the Prime Minister suggesting that changes would not be made until the threat had reduced to level three.
The Foreign Secretary was asked today where the UK is currently on the government's coronavirus alertness scale of 1 to 5.
He told Sky News: "We are transitioning from level four to level three.
"We have made steady progress to get the R level down below one."
He also warned the country faces further lockdowns if there's "any uptick" in the disease.
At today's government daily press briefing, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed the UK is still at level four.
He said these "small changes" for those shielding will have a "huge impact" on people's mental health and wellbeing "while still continuing to ensure they're protected by being at home and reducing the amount of face-to-face contact that they have with people outside their household to the absolute minimum".
Dr Harries, deputy chief medical officer for England, said the understanding of individual risks with individual diseases is "still a learning process".
She said that at the start the chance of meeting someone with the disease would have been about one in 40 and it is now about one in 400 to 500, and the incidence of new cases is about one in 1,000.
Dr Harries said: "Nothing will ever be 100% safe".
Of the new guidance which allows people to spend time outdoors, Mr Jenrick said: "This will enable those shielding to see loved ones like children and grandchildren, something many I know are aching to do.
"Having spent many weeks indoors some will understandably be very cautious and concerned about going outdoors. You should only do what you are comfortable with."
He added: "If the conditions become less favourable our advice to those being asked to shield will unfortunately need to be tightened. The Government will continue to ensure that support is available to those who need it for as long as possible and for as long as people are advised to follow the shielding guidance."
Mr Jenrick said the next review of shielding measures will take place in the week commencing June 15 and officials will consider the next steps of the programme "more generally" beyond June 30.
"Following that review, the NHS will also write to all individuals on the shielding patient list with information about next steps on shielding advice and the support that will be available to them.
"If the conditions become less favourable, our advice to those being asked to shield will, unfortunately, need to be tightened.
"The government will continue to ensure that support is available to those who need it for as long as possible, and for as long as people are advised to follow the shielding guidance.
"Once again, can I thank all those shielding for your patience, and for your fortitude.
"Everybody across the country appreciates the unique challenges that you face, and we want to continue to do all we can to ensure that whilst you might be at home shielding for a bit longer, you are not alone," he said.
He said, while the updated guidance from Monday for the shielded is for England only, the Government is working closely with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland "who will issue their own guidance in due course".
