THE UK’s four chief medical officers have agreed the Covid-19 alert level should move from level 4 to level 3, as the progress of the vaccination programme and lifting of restrictions continue to ease.

Level 3 means that the “epidemic is in general circulation”. The decision has been taken by Wales’ Chief Medical Officer, Dr Frank Atherton, as well as his counterparts in England, Professor Chris Whitty, Northern Ireland, Dr Michael McBride, and Scotland, Dr Gregor Smith, as well as the NHS England national medical director, Professor Stephen Powis.

“Following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and in the light of the most recent data, the UK Chief Medical Officers and NHS England National medical director agree that the UK alert level should move from level 4 to level 3,” they said in a joint statement.

“Thanks to the efforts of the UK public in social distancing and the impact we are starting to see from the vaccination programme, case numbers, deaths and Covid hospital pressures have fallen consistently. However, Covid is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day so we all need to continue to be vigilant. This remains a major pandemic globally.

“It is very important that we all continue to follow the guidance closely and everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered it.”

The five alert levels are:

Level 1: Covid -19 is not known to be present in the UK

Level 2: Covid -19 is present in UK, but the number of cases and transmission is low

Level 3: A Covid -19 epidemic is in general circulation

Level 4: A Covid-19 epidemic is in general circulation; transmission is high or rising exponentially

Level 5: As level 4, and there is a material risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed