COVID-19: Restrictions in UK are being eased 'once and for all', says Boris Johnson

On this occasion, UK PM also offered his sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

However, with the official death toll passing 126,172, Mr Johnson warned a COVID-19 third wave as seen in France and Italy.

Boris Johnson has also been facing increasing pressure to justify seeking a six-month extension to the "authoritarian" lockdown powers in England, amid a Commons rebellion from Conservative MPs.

After a minute's silence at midday, Mr Johnson admired those who developed and bowled out vaccines, parents who home-schooled their children and the public who suffered social distancing.

"It's because of every person in this country that lives have been saved, our NHS was protected, and we have started on our cautious road to easing restrictions once and for all," he said in a statement.

Earlier, the UK PM also highlighted the shakiness of the situation, warning of a fresh wave of infections in Europe, adding ‘experience has taught us that when a wave hits our friends, it washes up on our shores as well’.

"I expect that we will feel those effects in due course," Mr Johnson told journalists, stressing the need to swiftly administer vaccines with international cooperation.

It is pertinent to mention here that just over 10% of adults have received their first vaccine dose across the EU, compared to the UK's figure exceeding 53%.