On Monday the Prime Minister announced that COVID
restrictions are set to end in England, in line with Step 4 of our Roadmap to
Recovery, from 19 July, subject to a final review of the data next week
This has been made possible as a result of the delay to the
final step of the roadmap which has allowed the covid-19 vaccination programme
to catch up and save thousands more lives by vaccinating millions more people.
Over 79 million 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 on Monday also confirmed the vaccine rollout
will accelerate further, by reducing the vaccine dose interval for people under
40 from 12 weeks to 8. This will mean every adult has the chance to have two
doses by mid-September.
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.
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 also be no legal requirement on the use of
Covid-status certification as a condition of entry for visitors to any domestic
setting.
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 Prime Minister 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.
My thanks goes to everyone who has done their bit,
particularly our NHS, which celebrated its 73rd Birthday on Monday,
and all the volunteers who have been of such incredible assistance with the
vaccine rollout. We are only now in the position to take these steps because of
the success of the vaccination programme and the way in which people have stuck
to the existing rules and restrictions through this difficult time.
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