The UK will "soon" be in a position to lower the level of lockdown restrictions - as long as the rate of infection falls, a cabinet minister said.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma told the public that the country is moving toward level three on the five-tier Covid alert system - which would see some of the strictest measures reduced.
Since the lockdown was put in place on March 23, it has been in level four - meaning the threat is classed as "severe".
Level three means it is classed as "substantial".
But Mr Sharma warned that bringing the country back to normal must be done in "careful steps" in order to avoid a second peak of cases.
He said at today's daily Downing Street briefing - in which he confirmed that the Covid-19 death toll has risen by a further 170 - that progress was being made.
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Describing five threat levels - with five being the most severe and one being the least - he stated: “Throughout the period of lockdown we have been at level four.
“Thanks to you, people across the country, we have collectively helped to bring the R level down.
“We are now in a position to begin moving to level 3, in careful steps.”
And he continued: “‘We have set out the first of three steps we will take to carefully modify the measures, gradually ease the restrictions and begin to allow people to return to their usual way of life while avoiding a disastrous second peak that overwhelms the NHS.”
The Business Secretary said the UK would move to level three “when it is safe to do so”.
The five tier 'Covid Alert System' will be used to determine when it is safe for measures to be relaxed, and for life to gradually get back to normal.
There are five tiers to the Covid Alert System.
Level Five: Critical - The virus is spreading rapidly and the NHS is overwhelmed. A tight lockdown is required.
Level Four - Severe - The NHS is stretched but coping. There is still community transmission of the disease (which means authorities are unable to trace the source of the infection).
Level Three - Substantial- The disease is in general circulation and the NHS is operating at extra capacity. Restrictions remain on the public sector and normal life.
Level Two - Moderate - There is low transmission of the disease, and the NHS is operating normally. Schools and businesses can open, with some special measures still in place.
Level One - Low - The disease is no longer present in the UK. Public and private sectors can operate normally.
In order to lift the restrictions, the government has said the number of new cases and the death rate must fall dramatically.
Ministers also need to be satisfied that the NHS will not be overwhelmed, and that sufficient PPE is available for medics.
They also need to be confident that relaxing measures will not cause a second peak.
