Changes to lockdown restrictions need to be 'cautious' as the UK's rate of coronavirus infection is still 'significant', the Government's chief scientific advisor has said.
Sir Patrick Vallance told Thursday's daily briefing that the UK remained in a 'fragile state' which meant the easing of lockdown needed to be done gradually.
He was speaking after Boris Johnson announced that from Monday groups of up to six people from different households could meet in private gardens or elsewhere outdoors.
Announcing the 'R number' - the way the virus's ability to spread is measured - was between 0.7 and 0.9, Sir Patrick said: "The number of new infections is estimated to be roughly one in a thousand per week, it means that 54,000 new cases are