Fresh lockdown in Noerth for a further six weeks
Alert level three means that although the virus is still in general circulation, transmission is no longer high or rising exponentially.
It comes as zero Coronavirus deaths have been announced in the North of Ireland, England and Scotland.
Boris Johnson is due to confirm England’s pubs can serve indoors in the latest easing of lockdown next week.
While zero deaths were announced in three UK nations, four deaths were reported in Wales.
It is still likely that there were deaths since Sunday and these could be accounted for in a rise over the coming days.
Reported data is often lower at weekends, and in the days immediately after, due to processing delays.
Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister could announce guidance that it is safe to hug friends and family.
Mr Johnson is expected to confirm England will move to the next stage of the government’s road map for lifting England’s lockdown at the 5 pm news conference.
He will be joined at the briefing by England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty and the UK government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.
The decision on the alert level was due to the efforts of the public in bringing Covid rates down, said a statement from the chief medical officers for England, Scotland, the North of Ireland and Wales, along with NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis.
Cases, hospital admissions and deaths have all decreased and vaccines are having the desired protective effect, with the latest figures showing a third of UK adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and two-thirds have had their first of two doses.
“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,” the medical experts said.
The UK moved to the highest Covid alert level – five – in January as the nation was put into lockdown and there was a real risk of the NHS becoming overwhelmed.
By late February, the alert was lowered to four.
But the alert system, which follows recommendations by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, is independent from government decisions on easing or tightening restrictions.
More restrictions may be lifted in the North of Ireland on Monday, May 24, including the reopening of indoor hospitality, B&Bs and hotels.
Indoor group exercise could resume and wedding receptions and funeral wakes restart.
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