- Social distancing to end, facemasks no longer mandatory, and
no limits on gatherings
- All venues currently closed can safely reopen with no
capacity limits
-
PM: We must find a new way of living with the
virus
COVID restrictions are set to end in England from step 4 of the
roadmap after the Prime Minister set out how life will soon
return close to normal.
The decision to open up will be made in a balanced and careful
way, with the Prime Minister being clear that people’s personal
judgement will now be key in learning to live with the virus.
Subject to a final review of the data next week, legal
restrictions will end on Monday 19 July.
Limits on social contact will end, meaning there will be no
restrictions on indoor or outdoor gatherings. Weddings, funerals
and other life events able to take place without limits or
restrictions.
All venues currently closed will be allowed to reopen, including
nightclubs, and there will be no legal requirement for table
service in hospitality settings.
Face coverings will no longer be legally required in shops,
schools, hospitality, or on public transport although guidance
will be in place to suggest where people might choose to wear
one, such as where you come into contact with people you don’t
usually meet in enclosed and crowded places.
The government reviews into social distancing and Covid-status
certification have also now concluded. The 1m plus rule will be
lifted other than in specific places such as at the border to
help manage the risks of new variants coming into the country.
There will be no legal requirement on the use of Covid-status
certification as a condition of entry for visitors to any
domestic setting.
As a result of the delay to the final step of the roadmap, the
vaccination programme has saved thousands more lives by
vaccinating millions more people.
Over 79m vaccine doses have now been administered in the UK,
every adult has now been offered at least one dose, and 64% of
adults have received two doses.
The government has also today confirmed the rollout will
accelerate further, by reducing the vaccine dose interval for
under 40s from 12 weeks to 8. This will mean every adult has the
chance to have two doses by mid-September.
The Prime Minister made clear that learning to live with the
virus meant cases would continue to rise significantly, even if
the success of the vaccination programme meant hospitalisations
and deaths will rise at a lower level than during previous peaks.
He set out how cases could rise to 50,000 per day by 19 July,
with daily hospital admissions and deaths also rising although
more slowly.
The guidance to work from home where possible will also end, to
allow employers to start planning a safe return to workplaces.
The cap on the number of named visitors for care home residents
will be removed from the current maximum of five per resident,
although infection prevention and control measures will remain in
place to protect the most vulnerable.
While NHS Test and Trace will continue to play an important role
in managing the virus, the PM also signalled the government’s
intention to move to a new regime whereby fully vaccinated people
would no longer need to self-isolate if identified as a contact.
Further details will be set out in due course.
The Education Secretary will also update on new measures for
schools and colleges later this week, which will minimise further
disruption to education but maintain protection for children.
Proof of vaccination or a negative test will still be required
for international travel, with the Prime Minister confirming that
the Transport Secretary will provide a further update later this
week on removing the need for fully vaccinated arrivals from an
amber country to isolate.
