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Pubs, restaurants, B&Bs and hotels will be allowed to open from early next month. Mr Johnson promised there is “not much more to wait now”, but insisted he is sticking to his road map for reopening on July 4. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has already said the Prime Minister’s review “will make an enormous difference” to businesses.

The easing of shutdown comes after the UK’s coronavirus alert level was downgraded from four to three.

Under level three, the virus is considered to be “in general circulation” and there could be a “gradual relaxation of restrictions”.

Figures yesterday showed that a further 43 people died in the last 24 hours from COVID-19, the lowest rise on a Sunday since lockdown began.

Speaking in Number 10, Mr Johnson said: “The disease is increasingly under control and I just want people to reflect on that.

“It’s going down, we are getting it down. So, of course, as we make that progress it will be possible to open up more and you will be hearing more about what we want to do with not just non-essential retail but with the hospitality sector from July 4 and we’re sticking absolutely like glue to the road map to the plan that I set out on May 10.

“But it’s very important we don’t lose our vice-like grip on the disease; we’ve got to keep it on the floor where we’ve got it.

“On the progress on social distancing, watch this space and you won’t have much more to wait now. You’ll be hearing more this week.”

Mr Johnson will speak with Cabinet colleagues and scientists today as he puts the finishing touches to his plans, before addressing Parliament tomorrow.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “The reason we are able to move forward this week is because the vast majority of people have taken steps to contain the virus.

“The more we open up, the more important it is that everyone follows the social distancing rules. We will not hesitate to put on the handbrake to stop the virus running out of control.”

The move to a “one metre-plus” social distancing rule will apply to all venues including offices, schools and pubs. It will allow people to remain a metre away from others if they take additional measures to protect themselves, such as wearing a face covering.

One expert informing the Government’s response to the pandemic as part of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said he had revised his opposition to reducing the two-metre rule now transmission is low.

Professor Calum Semple, of the University of Liverpool, told the BBC: “I’m still saying two metres is safer than one but in my opinion it is now a reasonable political decision to relax these rules.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday said Britain is now ready to take the “next step” on the road to returning to normal. He added that under the new plans, people might need to register before going to the pub and order drinks using an app.

“That is the sort of thing that we are looking at for how do you make it safe to open. I wouldn’t rule it out,” he told Sky News.

The step – previously taken in countries such as New Zealand – would allow for easier tracing of customers if someone who socialised at the venue is found to have been infected.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Labour would back halving the distance to one metre in “certain circumstances” and if other safety measures were put in place.

He added: “We also need to see a greater use of face masks, I would have thought. Certain workers who are very public facing in their day-to-day action, perhaps greater use of face shielding, let’s get testing and tracing up and running.

“But this still remains a deadly virus. We cannot be complacent.

“If we are going to relax some measures, we need to ensure other mitigation measures are in place.”

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