THE Prime Minister will announce later today his Covid roadmap out of lockdown, detailing when restrictions will be lifted to let life return to normal.

Boris Johnson will reveal his plans this evening, and has said the decisions are "based on the latest data" and "will be cautious" in its approach.

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister's much-feted tiered restriction system, which repeatedly failed to limit spread of Covid-19, has been scrapped.

Some parts of the roadmap have already been reported in the national press, including all children returning to school on March 8, and plans to allow self-catering UK holidays over Easter.

In a statement, Mr Johnson said:  “Today I’ll be setting out a road map to bring us out of lockdown cautiously.

“Our priority has always been getting children back into school which we know is crucial for their education as well as their mental and physical wellbeing, and we will also be prioritising ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely.

“Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step, and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe.

“We have therefore set four key tests which must be met before we can move through each step of the plan.”

However, scientists have urged caution, with leading epidemiologist Professor John Edmunds warning that any easing of the lockdown must be gradual to prevent a surge in hospital admissions and deaths.

And the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said Mr Johnson should not to “bow” to political pressure and dilute public messaging in the road map.

Restrictions will be relaxed step-by-step across the whole of England at the same time, Downing Street confirmed, due to the current uniform spread of the virus.

Number 10 said the road map would seek to balance the health needs with the social and economic impacts of lockdown.

Here is what the roadmap will reportedly lay out later today:

March

- It is believed that all schoolchildren will return to school on March 8. Regular testing which had been planned for January is to be used in schools to keep track of any Covid cases, and year group bubbles will remain to limit mixing.

The Government has repeatedly insisted schools are safe, despite admitting they are "vectors of transmission", and Teaching union NASUWT has issued a fresh call for education staff to be prioritised for vaccines in the second phase of the rollout as schools reopen.

- Also expected to reopen at the end of March are outdoor sports where social distancing is very easy, such as golf and tennis, and children's sport is also expected to return.

Beginning of April/Easter

- A relaxation of stay at home messaging is expected, with travel restrictions lifted, in March, but it's likely that being able to meet with other households will be delayed until Easter.

- Non-essential retail is expected to be reopened by Easter or shortly after, but there may be a delay for indoor shopping centres; like Kirkgate and the Broadway.

- It is also reported to be "likely" that people will be allowed to spend time at second homes or at self-catering holiday rentals in time for the Easter holiday.

- Adult outdoor sports such as football and both rugby codes are also expeMay or Junected to return after Easter.

Mid April

- This is the earliest point that indoor household mixing could return - once vaccine priority groups 1-9 have had their first dose, but allowing indoor mixing will depend on the data.

- Pubs, restaurants and bars could reopen in April - but for outdoor service only. When indoor seating returns it could be limited to the rule of six, and the whole population will have to be vaccinated to allow hospitality to get back to normal.

- Gyms and indoor sports, despite there being evidence they barely contributed to the spread of Covid, will be kept shut until mid-April once priority groups 1-9 are vaccinated.

- Hairdressers could also reopen in mid-April.

May or June

- Socially distanced performances in cinemas and theatres could return by May or June, tied in with the reopening of hospitality.

August (at the earliest)

- While the Government has no control over this, as it depends on restrictions put in place by other countries, but it's unlikely foreign holidays will return before August.

- Large-scale events and nightclubs are also very unlikely to reopen until the end of the summer, once the entire population have had at least their first dose of the vaccine. Mass testing is expected to be integral to reopening.