On Monday, the prime minister announced that the final stage of easing lockdown restrictions in England would be delayed from 21 June to 19 July.
The announcement means pubs, clubs and theatres will still have to operate within capacity limits and nightclubs will remain closed.
And limits remain on how many people can meet up, with groups of up to 30 allowed to meet outdoors and up to six people or two households allowed indoors.
Restrictions on the number of guests allowed at a wedding will, however, be lifted as planned, but hosts will have to ensure social distancing can still take place.
The decision to delay the lifting of other lockdown measures followed a rise in cases, driven by the more transmissible Delta variant, which was first identified in India.
Government scientists said the short delay could lead to a significant drop in the number of Covid patients seeking hospital treatment.
'Devastating but not inevitable'
On Wednesday afternoon, MPs will get the chance to debate and then vote on extending the coronavirus restrictions.
A number of Conservative MPs have expressed concern about the delay and could oppose the government.
Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of backbench Conservative MPs, said those in the risk group had been offered the vaccine and it was time to "let people make judgements about how to live their lives".
Another Conservative backbencher, Marcus Fysh, described the delay as a "disastrous and unacceptable policy".
However, even if some Conservatives vote against the government, the extended restrictions are likely to pass, with Labour expected to support the measures.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said extending coronavirus rules "is devastating but it was not inevitable".
"The Delta variant is here in such force because of lax Conservative border policy - and the fallout from that chain of events is enormous."
"Pakistan and Bangladesh were added [to the travel red list] on 9 April, yet the prime minister waited 14 more days before adding India.
"The responsibility for breaking the promise of 'freedom day' lies squarely with this Conservative government."
Responding to Labour criticism, Mr Zahawi said "the data and the science" had informed the government's approach.
"Each of the measures that we have put in place - informed by the latest scientific advice - adds layers of protection against importing the virus, including through reducing the risk of importing new variants."
He added that the government had put India on the red list before the Delta variant was labelled "a variant of concern".
The government is to make coronavirus vaccinations compulsory for care home staff who work with elderly and vulnerable people, Whitehall sources say.
Ministers are also considering extending the policy to all NHS staff, a proposal which has previously been criticised by some groups representing nurses and doctors.
The government will open a consultation on Wednesday requiring vaccination as a condition of employment for all health service workers in an attempt to reduce transmission in hospitals, sources add.
The full plans are expected to be formerly announced by ministers in the coming days.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic and have already saved thousands of lives - with millions of health and care staff vaccinated.
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"Our priority is to make sure people in care homes are protected and we launched the consultation to get views on whether and how the government might take forward a new requirement for adult care home providers, looking after older people, to only deploy staff who have had a COVID-19 vaccination or have an appropriate exemption.
"The consultation has ended and we will publish our response in due course."
More on Covid-19
The move would mean compulsory vaccination for most of the 1.5 million people working in social care in England, despite concerns having been previously raised that it could lead to some leaving the profession.
It comes as ministers look to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in care homes and hospitals by staff who are infected as cases of the Delta variant are rising in the community.
There have also been concerns about the uptake of the vaccine from those working in the care sector, with the latest figures suggesting more than 50,000 carers remain unvaccinated.
Some legal experts have previously suggested that compulsory vaccination could be challenged as a breach of European human rights law or equalities legislation.
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Care home workers and families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, have disputed Matt Hancock's handling of the pandemic.
Under the proposals, care home workers will have 16 weeks to take up the offer of the jab or face losing their roles, reports say.
There have been more than 40,000 deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes in England during the pandemic to date.
The government is to make coronavirus vaccinations compulsory for care home staff who work with elderly and vulnerable people, Whitehall sources say.
Ministers are also considering extending the policy to all NHS staff, a proposal which has previously been criticised by some groups representing nurses and doctors.
The government will open a consultation on Wednesday requiring vaccination as a condition of employment for all health service workers in an attempt to reduce transmission in hospitals, sources add.
The full plans are expected to be formerly announced by ministers in the coming days.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Vaccines are our way out of this pandemic and have already saved thousands of lives - with millions of health and care staff vaccinated.
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"Our priority is to make sure people in care homes are protected and we launched the consultation to get views on whether and how the government might take forward a new requirement for adult care home providers, looking after older people, to only deploy staff who have had a COVID-19 vaccination or have an appropriate exemption.
"The consultation has ended and we will publish our response in due course."
More on Covid-19
The move would mean compulsory vaccination for most of the 1.5 million people working in social care in England, despite concerns having been previously raised that it could lead to some leaving the profession.
It comes as ministers look to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in care homes and hospitals by staff who are infected as cases of the Delta variant are rising in the community.
There have also been concerns about the uptake of the vaccine from those working in the care sector, with the latest figures suggesting more than 50,000 carers remain unvaccinated.
Some legal experts have previously suggested that compulsory vaccination could be challenged as a breach of European human rights law or equalities legislation.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Care home workers and families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, have disputed Matt Hancock's handling of the pandemic.
Under the proposals, care home workers will have 16 weeks to take up the offer of the jab or face losing their roles, reports say.
There have been more than 40,000 deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes in England during the pandemic to date.
The pace of the vaccine rollout is likely to slow down rather than speeding up in the coming weeks, Government officials fear, as the logistical difficulties of reaching the remaining population become more complex.
The head of the NHS said that all English adults should be able to book their first dose by the end of this week, as the health service uses the four-week delay to the lockdown roadmap to “finish the job” of the rollout.
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Whitehall insiders are confident they will reach this goal, which does not require the current rate of vaccinations to accelerate, but believe that the existing pace of around 400,000 doses a day in England may not be sustained over the next five weeks.
One problem is a squeeze on supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, which one health official said would do the “heavy lifting” in vaccinating younger groups because they are advised against taking the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab and Moderna supplies are very low.
Another is that second doses can only be given to people who had their first jab eight to 12 weeks ago, providing an upper limit to the number which can be administered each day.
There are currently no plans to revise the advice on Oxford/AstraZeneca for younger groups or to reduce the gap between doses to less than eight weeks, although either move would help speed the rollout.
A No 10 spokesman said: “What we’ll see is what we have seen throughout that supply fluctuates week from week and day from day. We have a robust supply of vaccinations that allows us to proceed at pace.”
Sir Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, told a press conference on Tuesday: “It is now very important that we use the next four weeks to finish the job to the greatest extent possible for the Covid vaccination programme.”
He added: “I expect that by the end of this week, we’ll be able to open up the national booking service to all adults aged 18 and above.”
He warned that supply remained a brake on the speed of the rollout, saying: “Of course, vaccine supply continues to be constrained, so we’re pacing ourselves at precisely the rate of which we’re getting that extra vaccine supply between now and 19 July.”
Wales and Northern Ireland have been offering vaccines to all adults for several weeks. Scotland is will invite all over-18s to book their first dose by the end of next week, according to Nicola Sturgeon.
On Tuesday the UK passed the landmark of giving a second vaccine dose to more than 30 million people, meaning that 57 per cent of adults are fully protected against Covid-19. The second dose appears to be particularly important in defending against the Indian (Delta) variant.
Following the emergence of the footage, the prime minister tweeted: "Disgraceful to see the hounding of Nick Watt doing his job.
"The media must be able to report the facts without fear or favour - they are the lifeblood of our democracy."
In a statement, BBC director-general Tim Davie said: "The safety of journalists is fundamental to any democracy - they must be able to report unhindered free from abuse.
"There is absolutely no justification for any journalist to be treated in this way."
'Disturbing footage'
The footage was also condemned by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, while media minister John Whittingdale said the incident was "totally unacceptable" adding that the UK was "taking the lead" in tackling intimidation of journalists through its national action plan.
Measures in the plan include new training for police officers and journalists, as well as "commitments from social media platforms and prosecution services to take tough action against abusers".
Labour's shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens, said: "This extremely disturbing footage showing clear intimidation of a journalist while carrying out his job is absolutely unacceptable and should be condemned in the strongest terms.
"It is shocking that a BBC lanyard makes someone a target like this."
Following suggestions online that officers should have intervened in the incident, the Metropolitan Police initially said: "In this instance, while officers were nearby as part of the policing response to the ongoing protest, they were not in the immediate vicinity of the incident."
The force later released a further statement saying: "An initial statement issued earlier today suggested officers were not in the immediate vicinity of the incident. It was drafted based on the 45 second video of the incident which was shared very widely on social media this morning.
"We were subsequently made aware of a longer piece of footage lasting 3 minutes and 28 seconds which shows the incident in full.
"It is clear that the incident began on Whitehall where officers were present."
It added that "the behaviour shown in the video is unacceptable - members of the public, of any profession, have the right to go about their day without being subjected to verbal harassment or actions that put them in fear for their safety".
Responding to concerns about police actions during the incident, the Met said it would "be reviewing our actions with a view to improving the policing of events for all Londoners".
NHS England has now extended the offer of a vaccine to everyone over the age of 23.
And all over-18s in England will be able to book a first dose by the end of this week, Downing Street has confirmed.
Meanwhile, members of the public who have already had their first jab are being urged to come forward for their second dose to help protect against the threat of new COVID variants.
To ensure people have the strongest possible protection, second doses for over-40s will be speeded up by reducing the dosing interval from 12 weeks to eight weeks.
30 million second doses have now been administered across the UK 🇬🇧
Second doses are incredibly important to get full protection.
The vaccine is our route out of this pandemic, so when it's your turn, come forward & get both jabs. pic.twitter.com/URcAJEkTDM
All over-40s who received a first dose by mid-May will be offered a second dose by 19 July.
Also, new analysis by Public Health England (PHE) showed for the first time that two doses of a COVID vaccine are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant, first detected in India.
The data suggests the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% effective against hospitalisation after both doses.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: "Second doses are increasingly vital, so this is an incredibly important milestone. Day after day, our vaccination programme reaches new heights.
"With over 30 million people across the UK now receiving a second dose, we are giving the fullest possible protection to our loved ones in the face of new variants.
"The strength of the union has never been clearer than in the UK vaccination effort. All four corners of this country have pulled together for one common purpose - to get the jab and fight this virus.
"I want to pay tribute to everyone right across the country who has answered our call to arms and rolled up their sleeves to get the jab. I encourage everyone over 23 to come forward and get the jab."
Over-18s in Wales and Northern Ireland can already get a jab, and people over 30 are eligible in Scotland.
Speaking in Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon did not rule out the further easing of restrictions, but said the Scottish government needed to "buy ourselves sufficient time" to allow the vaccination programme to continue its work.
A three-week delay would allow more people to receive a second coronavirus vaccine amid concerns about rising cases of the Delta variant, she added.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, the First Minister said the planned date of moving the remaining parts of Scotland in level two, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, down to level one would be delayed, along with the planned move to level zero for the rest of mainland Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon confirmed no changes to the levels applying to areas across Scotland would take place in the coming week and that it was “unlikely” any part of the country would move down on June 28 as planned.
However, the decision to delay further easing of restrictions until late July was also criticised as “unforgiveable” by retail groups, with representatives for the hospitality industry saying the announcement continued a “never-ending hell”.
Nicola Sturgeon gave her update on Covid-19 to the Scottish Parliament
The delay follows an announcement on Monday by Boris Johnson, who confirmed the planned full reopening of England would not take place as planned on June 21.
The Prime Minister said the date for lifting restrictions must be delayed by four weeks until July 19 due to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19, which has caused a spike in cases.
Ms Sturgeon said the significant part of the population yet to receive two doses of the vaccine was the “biggest vulnerability” for Scotland.
The First Minister is delivering an update around Covid-19 restrictions the day after Boris Johnson announced a delay to reopening in England.
She said a further delay to relaxing restrictions would allow for more people to get vaccinated before relaxing Covid-19 measures further.
The next review date will take place next week, but Ms Sturgeon said it was “unlikely” restriction easing would go ahead.
The First Minister told Holyrood: “Given the current situation – and the need to get more people fully vaccinated before we ease up further – it is reasonable to indicate now that I think it unlikely that any part of the country will move down a level from June 28.
“Instead, it is likely that we will opt to maintain restrictions for a further three weeks from June 28 and use that time to vaccinate – with both doses – as many more people as possible.
"Doing that will give us the best chance, later in July, of getting back on track and restoring the much greater normality that we all crave.”
She added: “The vaccination programme is going exceptionally well and it is being rolled out just as quickly as supplies allow. But there is still a significant proportion of the population that isn’t yet fully vaccinated.
“To be blunt, that remains our biggest vulnerability at this stage – and it is a significant one.
"So, we need to buy sufficient time for vaccination to get ahead, and that is the reason for caution at this juncture.”
Ms Sturgeon said on average younger people were more likely to be hospitalised when compared to earlier in the pandemic, stating those aged in their 30s and 40s were now the most likely to be hospitalised by Covid-19.
She said that it was possible the statistics showed people were being discharged “more quickly” and required a shorter stay in hospital when compared to earlier in the pandemic.
The First Minister added the Scottish Government would publish a paper looking at what life beyond level zero would look like in the coming weeks, alongside a paper on a review of physical distancing.
The latter review will examine whether theatres, cinemas and other arts venues may be able to operate more sustainably in the medium to long term.
However, the SNP leader’s announcement was described as “unforgiveable” by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Andrew McRae, the FSB Scotland’s policy chair, said state support must be “proportionate” to the level of restrictions.
He said: “Any unlocking delay comes with consequences for Scottish businesses and jobs. Hospitality and tourism firms face further weeks of restrictions, which make it difficult to cover their overheads, never mind pay down their debts.
"We must remember that nightclubs, soft play centres and much of the events industry remain unable to trade at all.
“That’s why the bare minimum FSB expects is for state support to be proportionate to the scale of the restrictions.
"It would be unforgivable if governments in Edinburgh and London wound down the help on offer for firms while prolonging their difficulties.”
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) also criticised the announcement, claiming the decision would cost the industry “millions” and jeopardise the survival of many hospitality businesses.
Managing director of the SLTA, Colin Wilkinson, said: "The hospitality sector is at breaking point with today’s announcement that the brakes are on for further easing of restrictions.
"We understand the need for caution, but the Scottish Government must also understand that this delay will cost an already beleaguered industry millions of pounds and puts in jeopardy the future survival of many of the pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and late-night bars that form part of Scotland’s social fibre.
“For those still unable to open because of their size or the entertainment they provide, such as late opening premises and nightclubs, it is another devastating blow for an abandoned sector crippled by restrictions and with no route map out of the pandemic.”
Stephen Montgomery, the spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group, which has campaigned for quicker opening across Scotland and criticised the Euro 2020 fan zone, labelled the decision the continuation of a “never-ending hell” for the industry.
He said: “This is a never-ending hell for hospitality workers and the businesses that employ them, especially those in the music and night-time sectors.
“Now is the right time to revisit the practical suggestions we put forward several times at the government’s request, such as tweaking the tiers so it’s easier for responsible businesses to trade viably while still protecting people’s health.
“This is especially important because the whole sector is facing a recruitment crisis that’s putting another brake on our recovery.
“The government has shown that it can be flexible and understanding when it wants to, as we’ve seen with the Euros and the fan zone. All we’re asking is for hospitality to be shown the same consideration.”
Reacting to the statement in the Holyrood chamber, Douglas Ross said most Scots would be “scunnered” by the news that restrictions would continue for weeks.
The Scottish Conservative leader said people were “thoroughly fed up with Covid”, but that vaccination would be the best way out of the pandemic.
He also asked the First Minister when all adults would receive both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, called for capacity limits at weddings to be lifted, and whether the delay to restrictions would extend to September.
Ms Sturgeon refused to put a firm target for all Scottish adults to have two doses of the vaccine and criticised Mr Ross for “putting words in my mouth”.
She said: “I would ask members and indeed those watching to pay attention to what I said.
"At no point today did I say I thought restrictions would be in place for a period of further months, I didn’t say that.
"I have tried all along not to commit to firm dates way into the future that nobody can be certain can be delivered.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also called for a review of “inconsistent decision making”, raising the Euro 2020 fan zone in Glasgow as an example when nursery graduations were unable to go ahead.
He said: “To maintain public trust and confidence we need consistent communications, consistent decision-making, adequate support for businesses and employees alongside a robust vaccination programme, and hot-spot protocols.
“I accept what the First Minister has said around the delay, but there has been mixed messages that I think do not help maintain public trust.”
Responding, Ms Sturgeon said she did not have the “magic solution”, but would look at the measures that were “apparent” contradictions.
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