Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said the review of the two-metre rule will “make an enormous difference” to businesses, in a major hint it will be relaxed.
The review is expected to be concluded next week, with Boris Johnson also set to make an announcement on the reopening of pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels.
Under new plans to ease the lockdown for the hospitality sector, drinkers would be encouraged to order pints on smart phone apps and pubs could be patrolled to ensure social-distancing measures are enforced.
It comes as the virus death toll in the UK rose by 128 on Saturday. Meanwhile a series of ‘air bridge’ agreements, which would see Brits travel to and from several countries while sidestepping quarantine restrictions, could reportedly be in place in two weeks.