What Covid alert ‘level 3’ means as UK is downgraded ahead of next lockdown phase

The Covid alert level in the UK has been downgraded following the success of the vaccination programme and lockdown restrictions.

The four chief medical officers of the UK have said the threat level should be lowered from “level 4” to “level 3”, after a “consistent” fall in coronavirus cases, hospital admissions and deaths.

What does ‘level 3’ mean?

The change to ‘level 3’ status means that the epidemic is in general circulation, but transmission of the virus is no longer considered to be high or rising exponentially.

In a statement, the chief medical officers of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, said: “Following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and in the light of the most recent data, the UK chief medical officers and NHS England national medical director agree that the UK alert level should move from level 4 to level 3.

“Thanks to the efforts of the UK public in social distancing and the impact we are starting to see from the vaccination programme, case numbers, deaths and Covid hospital pressures have fallen consistently. However, Covid is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day so we all need to continue to be vigilant. This remains a major pandemic globally.

“It is very important that we all continue to follow the guidance closely and everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered it.”

The change comes as experts said that the nation is in a “strong position” to press ahead with the easing of coronavirus restrictions, with the Prime Minister expected to announce indoor mixing and hugging loved ones will be permitted in England from next week.

Boris Johnson is holding a press conference in Downing Street on Monday (10 May) to announce the next steps in England’s road map out of lockdown.

It is expected that Mr Johnson will confirm that England can press ahead with the next phase out of lockdown from 17 May which allows more freedoms both in and outdoors.

The government has said the latest data suggests easing restrictions from this date is unlikely to risk a resurgence in infections, and latest figures show a third of UK adults are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus, with more than 53 million vaccine doses administered overall.