No 10 said the PM, whose fiancee gave birth on Wednesday, will update the UK on the "fight against this disease and the steps we are taking to defeat it". But political editor Laura Kuenssberg said he was unlikely to give "chapter and verse" on lifting the restrictions. No 10 also faces the deadline for its target of 100,000 daily virus tests. Health Secretary Matt Hancock pledged to reach the goal by the end of April. The latest figures show it reached just over 52,000 coronavirus tests on Tuesday. A scientist advising the government on testing, Prof John Newton, said he is confident the target will be met, but warned there will be a lag in the data.
The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty will appear alongside the prime minister at Thursday's briefing. Mr Johnson, who has just recovered from Covid-19, returned to work in Downing Street this week but missed Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday following the birth of his son with his fiancee Carrie Symonds.
BBC News