Boris Johnson is making an announcement at 5pm today

Prime minister Boris Johnson is set to hold a press conference tonight at 5pm.

It is expected, in his address to the nation, that Johnson will reveal the latest statistics regarding vaccinations, including the news that the Oxford vaccine can stop transmission by up to two-thirds.

Scientists at Oxford University have revealed that the rollout of vaccines across the country could have already started to stop the virus spreading.

They found that there was a 67% drop in positive swabs among those who have been vaccinated.

This means those vaccinated have protection from catching the virus and therefore passing it on, as well as also being less likely to get a severe case or die. 

A Tory minister told The Sun: “This is the news we have all been waiting for.

“At last. If this data is correct today will be seen as the turning point in this whole pandemic.”

The prime minister is also expected to pay tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore who died on Tuesday at 100-years-old. 

Earlier today, Priti Patel said she was ‘concerned’ over the lack of uptake in the vaccine by minority communities. 

She said: “I’m here today at the Neasden Temple because the Temple have used their school buildings to set up a vaccination site, hear in Neasden, in Brent to really get that message out to the local community and to ethnic groups, different ethnic groups around here, but also around the country – please take the vaccine.

“I am concerned, we are all concerned, as we’re hearing messages of misinformation, disinformation associated with the vaccine, and I’ve had the complete privilege today to see people locally come in at this vaccine centre to be vaccinated.

“I’ve met the heroic workers the people on the front line, members of the NHS, members of the army but also volunteers from this temple as well, that are bringing people in to get vaccinated.”

She added: “My message is really, really clear. Take the vaccine, once it gets offered to you. Please take it, it can save your life and it’ll save the lives of others.”

Boris is also due to reveal the ‘phased’ route out of lockdown on February 22nd.

A Whitehall source told The Telegraph: “These findings are exactly what we need. It’s looking good for schools returning in March, shops reopening in April.”

Another senior Government source added: “We hope it will be safe to commence the reopening of schools from March 8th, with other economic and social restrictions being removed thereafter as and when the data permit.”

Matt Hancock hailed the news of the Oxford studies this morning but added that it was too early to lift any lockdown rules as there are still 30,000 people in hospital with the virus.