Image source, Reuters

We're expecting Prime Minister Boris Johnson to lead a press conference at around 17:00 BST, where he will set out further details on the final step of England's roadmap out of lockdown.

He'll be joined by England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty and the UK government's chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance.

We already have some idea of what is going to be announced, with the government indicating that most restrictions should be able to be lifted from 19 July.

This will include making face masks voluntary and removing the requirement for 1m-plus social distancing and QR code sign-ins at pubs and restaurants.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid will also be updating MPs at the same time. We'll bring you all the latest from the press conference and the Commons here.

We've been out in Easton in Bristol speaking to people about what they think about the plan to make masks voluntary from 19 July.

Yunas Majothi, who owns independent grocery store Bristol Sweet Mart, says his staff will not be policing customers when the rules change.

The store will keep its Covid measures - such as hand sanitiser, temperature checks and screens - for a few weeks before they remove them "because we can’t be too sure about the future".

But Yunas adds: "I think that it is good that we are moving away from all this. Think people are a bit fed up with it.”

He says it will be the customer’s choice about wearing a mask after the 19 July, saying: “If they don’t wear it don’t think there is a lot I can do about it."

Kade Orankan, a structural engineer and father-of-two, says masks should go, since humans are social animals who need to see each other.

"It should be individual preferences," he says. "People should wear them if they want, and people should not wear them if they want.”

”It’s time for everyone to have a choice. I don’t like to wear a mask. I like to see people’s faces, half of it is covered. [It's] not the way to live life."

Image source, PA Media

London's Heathrow Airport has resumed using both runways and announced it will reopen Terminal 3 next week, ahead of an expected easing of travel restrictions.

The government has said it wants to drop quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers returning from amber-list countries "later in the summer".

Terminal 3 has been closed to regular passengers since early May 2020, although a facility to process arrivals from red-list countries was opened in the building last month.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of the airport, said: "With passenger demand expected to increase when ministers permit fully-vaccinated passengers to travel more freely, Heathrow is getting ready to welcome you back."

The airport said Terminal 3 would reopen from 15 July.

You can read more about the current travel rules in the UK here.

Image source, Lisa Teague

Lisa Teague, who owns a housewares shop in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, says she doesn’t understand why the government would want to scrap mandatory mask wearing in England.

“Face coverings should be continued to be mandatory to keep the staff and public alike safe and at a reduced risk of catching the disease,” she says.

She calls it “ludicrous” that the government would get rid of something that “can help reduce the spread (of the virus) at no cost to them”.

“They’re thinking that people will use their common sense - I'm sorry to say this, but there is a big lack in common sense when it comes to this.

“I'm highly disappointed in the government thinking that people will sort this for themselves. All this is going to do is make it worse.”

Image source, Getty Images

In the next half an hour we’re expecting Prime Minister Boris Johnson to lead a news briefing setting out details of the final step of England’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid will update MPs in the Commons at the same time.

Here’s a quick summary of what we know so far and the other main coronavirus stories today:

• The prime minister is expected to confirm he is confident the majority of remaining restrictions in England can be lifted from 19 July
• This will include making face masks voluntary, as well as ending the 1m-plus social distancing requirement and QR code sign-ins at restaurants
• But unions have criticised plans to lift legal restrictions on wearing face coverings on public transport and in other enclosed public spaces
• The Duchess of Cambridge is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who later tested positive for Covid-19
• Meanwhile, the Royal Family has celebrated the 73rd anniversary of the NHS by awarding the health service the George Cross and attending a cathedral service
• Elsewhere, Bangladesh is extending its strict nationwide lockdown for another week as the country sees a spike in Covid deaths and cases
• Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, has been admitted to hospital with Covid-19

Image source, Reuters

The South African rugby team is in isolation after one of its players tested positive for Covid-19.

“Lood de Jager returned a positive outcome in scheduled testing and, because of his close contact with a number of squad members, the entire group has gone into isolation,” a statement from South African Rugby said.

The team is set to play Georgia on Friday ahead of a series of matches against the British and Irish lions at the end of the month.

The Springboks have been hit hard by the pandemic, cancelling all 13 home and away test matches last year.

South Africa has recorded more than two million cases and 61,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

Image source, Getty Images

A total of 975 school children are at home isolating in a town which has seen its number of Covid-19 cases rising sharply.

Tamworth in Staffordshire has the second highest infection rate in England after a 225% rise - from a rate of 202 cases per 100,000 to 657 - in the week up to 30 June.

And 8,215 pupils across the county were isolating and being taught at home instead, the county council said.

It said the cases had "rocketed" and thousands of pupils and school staff had been asked to get tests to try to get on top of the situation.

Tamworth's rising cases were last week partly linked to football fans out watching Euro 2020 games.

Read more.

More than 45.3 million people in the UK have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while more than 33.7 million people have had two doses, according to the latest figures, external.

It means 86.1% of the adult population have had one jab, while 64% are fully vaccinated.

The UK has recorded 27,334 new cases, as well as nine deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to the latest figures, external.

The number of deaths recorded over the weekend and on Mondays tends to be lower because of reporting delays.

Image source, Reuters

Downing Street has confirmed that Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will join the prime minister later.

The press conference is set to begin at 5pm and we'll be bringing you all the updates.

Image source, PA Media

EasyJet has become the latest airline to say it has no plans to drop its requirement for passengers to wear face coverings.

However, it said in a statement that it would continue to keep its mask policy "under review".

It said it would be guided by its inhouse medical adviser, along with key industry governing bodies including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the World Health Organization, but added that "at present their guidance around the wearing of masks onboard remains unchanged".

Earlier, we brought you comments from Ryanair saying that face masks would remain compulsory on its flights regardless of the departing country or destination.

Image source, Getty Images

A nightlife industry body has said it is "encouraged" by the prospect of a "considerable easing of restrictions" in England from 19 July, particularly reports that social distancing will be dropped.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said social distancing had been "a huge challenge for our sector".

"But for thousands of businesses, freelancers and employees this has come too late," he added.

"For over 16 months, night time economy businesses have been forced to close, and the hospitality sector has been restricted by a number of unfair protocols and processes, whilst other industries have been able to operate normally."

Nightclubs have been unable to reopen in England since March 2020 - aside from a trial event in Liverpool in April - and other hospitality venues have had to limit capacity to comply with 1m social distancing.

Lucy Webster
BBC News Political Reporter

Image source, Emma Beeden

Disabled people and those with compromised immune systems have been expressing concerns about the potential scrapping of rules on masks.

Twenty-year-old Emma Beeden takes immunosuppresant drugs following a kidney transplant. She also has diabetes and blood pressure issues, which put her at a greater risk of serious illness.

She usually travels into London to work and volunteer, and she is a student at Sussex University. But for now she feels trapped in her small, rural village.

"I want things to go back to normal but when I feel safe," she said.

"Opening up is great for reducing isolation, but I'm very anxious about masks.

"When I see people wearing a mask, I think they’re not only protecting themselves, they’re protecting people they know and they’re protecting me."

She said young, at-risk people like her, whose bodies have not responded to the vaccine, have been "completely forgotten" in the decision to make mask wearing voluntary.

John Dickenson-Lilley described the move as "utterly horrific".

"As a blind guide dog owner, I have spent the entire pandemic with sighted people making decisions over whether or not to compromise my space as I cannot social distance," he said.

"It has been the most disabling experience of my life," he added.

"Throughout, I have had to wear a mask because people simply won't give me space or wear a mask themselves. It is bad enough in the street, let alone in shops or elsewhere."

Image source, AFP

Any relaxation of coronavirus restrictions should also apply to train services, according to the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators.

In a statement, it said: “Trains should be treated consistently with other indoor settings when it comes to the removal or on-going use of restrictions."

It says travelling by train is “low risk” because of carriages are well ventilated, so “any decision to leave public transport behind other parts of the economy would need to be based on the science”. “Of course, train companies will continue with extra cleaning and better information about how busy services are, and given that wearing a mask helps protect others, we would also support people who wished to continue wearing one in future if it becomes voluntary.”

Senior NHS figures, frontline staff and patients gathered at St Paul's Cathedral earlier for a thanksgiving service celebrating the work of the health service in tackling Covid-19.

The Duke of Cambridge also attended the event, held on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the NHS.

Ahead of the service, a doctor who was among those treating England's first coronavirus patients, a Covid survivor, and an NHS volunteer shared their reflections on the pandemic with BBC Breakfast.

Image source, EPA

Bangladesh is extending its strict nationwide lockdown for another week as the country sees a spike in Covid deaths and cases.

A record 164 people died in the previous 24 hours, authorities confirmed on Monday.

Under the lockdown restrictions, people are not allowed to leave their homes unless it is an emergency or they need to buy essential items.

Food markets are only allowed to open for a few hours a day, and other amenities such as shops and offices are closed. There is no public transport.

The army and police are patrolling the streets to ensure people comply with the restrictions.

According to the health department, the districts bordering India are the worst hit.

Bangladesh has recorded more than 944,000 cases and 15,000 deaths since the pandemic began.

Image source, Reuters

Labour's mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, says 19 July could be the "loss of freedom" day for vulnerable people.

He told Radio 4's World at One programme that face masks should still be worn on public transport and in supermarkets when the government relaxes coronavirus restrictions further.

He said these were locations where people had to go, so the requirement to wear masks should remain - "otherwise we could create a situation where some of the more vulnerable people would feel very, very uncomfortable about visiting those places.

"I've heard people talking about 'freedom day' on 19 July. Others have been in touch with me over the last 24 hours to say that they'd consider it 'loss of freedom' day."

He added: "I do think at this stage of the pandemic we do have to make policy with those who are most at risk in mind, rather than those who are most vociferous. "

Image source, PA Media

Bobby Morton, national officer for passenger transport at the Unite union, says he has not been on a bus since he had to sit next to a man not wearing a mask.

He told Radio 4's World at One programme: "A person approached me on the bus a number of weeks ago and sat very close to me.

“He wasn't wearing a mask and I asked him to move away from me and he refused and so I got off the bus and I've not been on one since."

Unite says ending the requirement to wear masks on public transport would be an act of gross negligence by the government.

Morton added: “My main problem is that I can foresee another wave coming in the winter and unfortunately I can see more deaths, particularly amongst the drivers that I represent."

Our visual journalism team have created these maps and graphs to help show the extent of the virus around the world.

Covid-19 is continuing to spread around the world, with more than 180 million confirmed cases and around four million deaths across nearly 200 countries.

Many countries are still seeing a rise in the number of cases.

Here's how the UK's case rate compares with other European nations.

As we mentioned earlier, Indonesia is seeing a surge in Covid cases with hospitals overwhelmed. Hospitals say they have almost exhausted supplies of oxygen.

You can read more about the pandemic and see more of the visual journalism team's work here.

Conservative MP Huw Merriman says recommending the use of face masks but not making them mandatory would give “mixed messages” and be “very confusing" for passengers.

The chairman of the Commons Transport Committee told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme: “If it’s down to the individual to decide, then we all have the responsibility – we decide what to do.

“If in fact the government is going to give guidance that face coverings would make sense to use, then that’s where I think it’s a bit confusing for passengers.”

He says getting more people to use public transport is of “greater concern to him” than making people wear masks, which is stopping some from using those services.

“We’ve got to be bold. We’ve got to take a view that actually it’s the vaccine that is delivering the protection.

"We do need to return to normality. That means face coverings should not be mandatory and should not have to be recommended as guidance because that’s a bit of a cop out.”

He adds that there should be a clear signal that public transport is safe and "is the same as other settings where there isn't the requirement to wear face coverings", so we can get people using it again.