LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Outdoor mixing with family members and friends may be possible by Easter, or early April, this year as the British government plans the gradual easing of the current coronavirus lockdown in England, British media reported Saturday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is spending the weekend finalizing plans for a "roadmap" out of lockdown, which is likely to allow two households to meet in gardens or parks by Easter, which falls on April 4 this year, according to a report by The Guardian newspaper.
It is thought that two households will be able to meet regardless of the number of people.
The report also suggested that six people from six different households could also be permitted to mix. Downing Street has not formally confirmed the report, said The Guardian.
England is currently under the third national lockdown since outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Johnson is expected to unveil his "roadmap" out of lockdown on Monday. It is widely expected that schools in England would start to open on March 8.
The prime minister has said he would take a "prudent" approach to the easing of lockdown to ensure the process is "irreversible".
Another 10,406 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,105,675, according to official figures released Saturday.
The country also reported another 445 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 120,365. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.
Meanwhile, more than 17.2 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has said the government would "not rest" until the vaccine was offered to all over-50s by the end of April.
To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem
