Boris Johnson is set to announce that a tougher three-tier system of restrictions will replace the national lockdown on 2 December.
In a statement to MPs on Monday, the prime minister will also set out how the public can see loved ones over Christmas in a statement to Parliament on Monday.
It comes after the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers has said she expects restrictions to continue into the new year to get the UK through the “hump of winter-meets-coronavirus”.
Saffron Cordery said there was “huge hope” of a vaccine among hospital staff, but warned against thinking “we can take our foot off the peddle”. Leaked documents suggest the NHS is planning to have everyone in England vaccinated by early April.