Boris Johnson has said the pandemic is far from over and we could see 50,000 cases a day by 19 July.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference by saying the 19 July reopening date is “only a few days away” but the “pandemic is far from over”.
“It certainly won’t be over by the 19th,” he says, adding that cases are still rising rapidly and some 50,000 daily infections are predicted by Freedom Day on 19 July.
Crediting the end vast majority of legal restrictions in England was thanks to the success of the vaccine rollout.
The final stage of England’s roadmap, step four, was delayed last month to no earlier than 19 July amid surging virus cases linked to the Delta variant.
Johnson said step four should proceed on that date, subject to a review of the latest data on 12 July.
However, he says the government is on track to meet its vaccination targets and the jabs remain effective.
“We must be honest with ourselves if we can’t reopen society in the next few weeks… when will we be able to return to normal?” he says.
What will change?
- The PM says this means all over-18s will have received both doses of a vaccine by the end of September.
- With Under-40s to be given vaccine doses eight weeks apart – down from current 12 weeks
- There will be no limits on social contact from 19 July and all remaining businesses will be allowed to open
- It means nightclubs and other nightlife venues will be allowed to reopen this month, and there will be no limits on how many people can gather.
- With no requirement for a domestic covid passport need.
- The government will also end its ‘work from home’ if possible message.
- Legal requirement to wear face masks to be removed from 19 July
- Self-isolation will continue – but fully vaccinated people will be exempt if a contact tests positive.
- Plans for fully vaccinated travellers to be exempt from quarantine on return from amber countries is expected to announced later this week.
