British PM says UK is 'turning the tide'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he wants "maximum transparency" about how the decisions to relax restrictions are taken in the fight against the novel coronavirus crisis.

Speaking from Downing Street on Monday for the first time since he recovered from a COVID-19 infection, Johnson began by thanking "the people of this country" and "everyone who has stepped up".

Johnson said he would not "throw away the sacrifice of the British people" by easing lockdown restrictions too quickly.

"We must also recognise the risk of a second spike and letting the reproduction rate go back over one. That would not only be a new wave of death and disease but also an economic disaster and we would be forced once again to slam on the brakes across the whole country and whole economy and reimpose restrictions," Johnson said.

"I know it is tough. I want to get the economy moving as fast as I can," he said.

Johnson also said he understands the worries from businesses and asked them to "contain your impatience".

He said the virus is the biggest challenge the country has faced since World War II.

"It is also true we are making progress. Fewer hospital admissions, and real signs now we are passing through the peak. Thanks to your good sense and altruism, thanks to our collective national resolve, we are on the brink of achieving that first clear mission – of preventing our National Health Service from being overwhelmed," he said.