Boris Johnson is 'looking at ways' families can spend Christmas together, the Prime Minister's official spokesperson has said.
Downing Street again insisted that the national lockdown in force across England will end on December 2.
However a number of comments by ministers and by those advising the government suggest that the country could be in for tougher tier restrictions following on from the second lockdown.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said this morning that ministers want to see a "significant easing" of coronavirus controls when the four-week lockdown is lifted, but suggested tighter controls may be needed in the top Tier 3.
Public Health England's Dr Susan Hopkins, medical advisor of the coronavirus response, also said in a Downing Street briefing on Monday that the new three-tier system may need to be "strengthened" over the winter months.
Although Tier 3 worked at reducing cases in the north, the leading doctor said that Tier 1 had "very little effect".
And Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in Monday's conference that it is "too early" to say if the current lockdown rules have had an impact in curbing the spread of the deadly virus.
He added: "We hope to be able to replace the national lockdown with a tiered system similar to what we had before."
The PM's official spokesman on Tuesday said: “In terms of the progress which is being made, obviously we will wait to see further data over the course of the next week or so.”
He said the R number – the virus reproduction rate – had been coming down “in some parts of the country”.
“What we continue to do is follow the rules and by doing so we can slow the spread of the infection."
A return to a tiered system of restrictions is planned, with decisions made on factors including the R number, the number of people in hospital beds and intensive care occupancy rates.
Mr Johnson is continuing efforts to allow people to see their families at Christmas, the spokesman added.
“We are looking at ways to ensure that people can spend time with close family over Christmas at the end of what has been an incredibly difficult year.”
The government is set to decide next week on how to end the current lockdown in England, which legally expires on December 2.
Downing Street also said Mr Johnson has tested negative for coronavirus but will remain in self-isolation.
He took a rapid turnaround lateral flow test as part of a pilot scheme for No 10 staff.
