Health secretary Javid says ‘no reason’ for restrictions to go beyond 19 July
New health secretary Sajid Javid said he saw “no reason to go beyond July 19” with Covid restrictions, in a nod to a full reopening of society in three weeks.
In his first statement as health secretary, Javid confirmed Step 4 of England’s roadmap out of lockdown would not be brought forward, but that he saw no reason to delay reopening beyond that point.
The government had planned to get rid of remaining Covid restrictions, including mask wearing and work from home advice, on 21 June. However, a steep rise in Covid cases prompted a pause in the roadmap, with the next ‘freedom day’ set for 19 July.
The number of Covid cases have continued to rise in the UK, with 22,868 recorded in the last 24 hours.
However the number of deaths have remained low, with just three deaths within 28 days of a positive tested recorded since yesterday, suggesting the vaccine rollout is breaking the link with death.
Former Chancellor and Home Secretary Javid was made Health Secretary on Saturday, after Matt Hancock resigned after video footage emerged of him kissing an aide in his ministerial office in a breach of coronavirus restrictions.
Images and video showed Hancock in an embrace with aide Gina Coladangelo last month, and the Health Secretary was facing increasing pressure to quit over the breaking of social-distancing rules.