Johnson warns pandemic ‘not over’ as 19 July freedom day to go ahead
Boris Johnson has warned the pandemic “is not over” as the government today confirmed that so-called freedom day will go ahead on 19 July.
Johnson said that “we cannot revert from 19 July as it was before Covid”.
“We will stick to our plan to lift legal restrictions and to lift social distancing,” he said.
“We recommend and expect people to were a face covering in enclosed spaces where you come into contact you don’t normally meet, such as public transport.”
There have been some critics of the wholesale lifting of restrictions as Covid surges throughout the UK.
There have been 213,528 Covid cases in the past seven days, indicating a 30 per cent weekly rise.
However, hospitlisations and deaths are not rising as quickly due to the large amount of people who have been double-jabbed.
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned that there would be an “exit wave” of Covid cases as the country reopens, but that all dates of lifting restrictions will lead to similar outcomes.
He said there was “no clear evidence” that a delay to lifting restrictions would make a difference.
Johnson announced last week that the next step on the roadmap out of lockdown will mean the end of the one-metre plus rule, mandatory face masks and limits on social gatherings.
Hospitality venues will be able to open in full and night clubs will be able to operate once again.
The government is encouraging night clubs and mass events to require Covid certification through the NHS Covid Pass, but it will not be mandatory.
Face masks will also be “recommended and expectd” for indoor shops and on public transport.
“Hospitalisations are also rising with the sustained growth [of cases] over the last month and they will continue rise too. We should be encouraged that hospitalisations are far less than at this point during the previous wave,” Sajid Javid told MPs today.
“On the basis in front of us, we do not believe infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. It’s important that everyone does their bit to help the NHS stay strong.”