Downing Street has hinted that Business Secretary Alok Sharma will make an announcement on the reopening of non-essential shops later on Tuesday.
Asked if they will open next Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Business Secretary is at the press conference later on, I don’t want to pre-empt what he might have to say.”
But the spokesman added that there was “no update” from chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty on the alert level, which remains at four.
Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance had updated the Cabinet on the coronavirus response.
Cabinet also discussed the progress on securing a vaccine and effective treatment, the spokesman said.
