UK Covid LIVE: UK coronavirus alert level downgraded as pubs able to serve takeaway drinks from April 12

People walk past a police car parked at Hyde Park

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The UK’s coronavirus alert level has been downgraded as the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is “consistently declining”.

In a joint statement, the four chief medical officers and NHS England’s national medical director Stephen Powis said threat of the NHS becoming overwhelmed has “receeded” but they warned “we should be under no illusions” because deaths and infections are still high

In a “lifeline” to venues, Boris Johnson’s spokesman has said once beer gardens reopen during step two of the roadmap out of lockdown, Britons will be able to get a takeaway pint.

Meanwhile, the Government has launched an advertising blitz to remind people to still “stay at home” despite declining coronavirus transmission rates, the success of the vaccine rollout and the launch of the roadmap out of lockdown.