THE Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to hold a press conference this afternoon in which he is set to announce the third step of the roadmap out of lockdown.

Mr Johnson will appear at Downing Street to make the announcement, with the third step due to come in on May 17 as expected.

It will see more businesses reopening, the return of crowds at theatres and live sports events, indoor socialising, international travel, and an easing on social distancing rules.

The first two steps of the roadmap went ahead as planned, and there has not been the spike in infections, hospitalisations and deaths some feared the easing may bring.

Later today, the Prime Minister is expected to lay out why we can ease lockdown further, and what this will entail.

Why can we move to Step Three?

The roadmap relies on four tests; the vaccine rollout, reductions in hospitalisations and deaths, infection rates staying low, and whether there are variants posing a danger.

More than two-thirds of adults in the UK have now had at least their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, showing the rollout continues apace, with a third of adults also now fully protected with both doses.

There are still more than 1,000 people in hospital with Covid-19, but this is a huge fall from the peak in January of almost 40,000. The number on ventilators is also down to 187 from a peak of more than 4,000.

The number of deaths is also down from around 1,300 a day in January to a weekly average of less than ten now.

The UK infection rate is now down to 21.1 infections to per 100,000 people, a huge fall from December and January.

What does Step Three include?

From May 17, most legal restrictions on outdoor socialising will be lfited, with groups of up to 30 allowed. Indoors, the rule of six/two households rule will apply for socialising.

There will also be an update on social distancing, with hugging expected to be allowed again for the first time in more than 12 months.

Indoor hospitality can return, but table service remains in force and masks must be worn when not at the table.

Also reopening will be indoor entertainment such as cinemas and play areas, indoor group exercise and organised sport can return, and hotels and the rest of the accommodation sector can reopen.

Crowds can return to the theatre and to sports grounds with capacity limits; 1,000 people or half-full at indoor venunes, 4,000 or half-full at outdoor venues, and up to 10,000 people or quarter-full at the largest stadiums.

This will see crowds back at Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars matches and at Yorkshire cricket fixtures.

Guest limits at weddings, funerals and other significant life events also increase to 30.

Before Step 4, due on June 21, a further review of social distancing rules will be held to see if face masks, working frfom home and other measures can be ditched for good.