Boris Johnson announcement: what the PM said on the lockdown roadmap and Covid vaccine passports

Boris Johnson held a press conference at 5pm this evening (5 April) to provide an update on the ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown.

The prime minister also announced a massive expansion of the government’s testing regime, with everyone in England expected to be able to access two rapid Covid test kits per week from Friday (9 April).

One year to the day since Mr Johnson was taken into hospital suffering with Covid, the prime minister confirmed that the conditions have been met for England to move to the next stage of the ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown next week.

The prime minister appeared alongside England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

Mr Johnson also addressed reports that the government is preparing to implement a Covid certification scheme, and that a number of mass event pilots will take place over the coming months.

Prior to the 5pm press conference the prime minister met with the Covid-O committee and the cabinet to finalise the announcements.