PM to outline plans to give back freedom
Social distancing measures could end as public urged to ‘exercise judgment’
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson will today map out how he plans to “restore people’s freedoms” at the final stage of his road map out of the coronavirus lockdown amid speculation that social distancing and mask-wearing requirements are to be ended.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister wanted to give the public and businesses more time to prepare for unlocking a fortnight today, so will give an update before his formal announcement is due next week.
The Government will also publish the results of its reviews into the use of so-called vaccine passports and the future of social distancing guidance.
The confirmation of a press conference today comes after Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said he expected life to “return to normality as far as possible” in England after the “terminus date” due to the success of the vaccine rollout in preventing serious illness.
The Cabinet Minister told the BBC yesterday that the country had moved into the “final furlong” of coronavirus restrictions.
Reports have suggested that Mr Johnson is preparing to scrap social distancing measures and ditch legal requirements to wear face coverings on “freedom day”.
Officials said the Prime Minister would today give an update on the next steps on the one metreplus rule in hospitality venues, the use of masks, and working from home.
As well as publishing the taskforce reviews, an update will also be provided on what is next for care home visits, Number 10 said.
Speaking before his announcement, the Prime Minister said people would have to “exercise judgment” to protect themselves from Covid-19, in a sign the Government will shift from legally enforced restrictions to affording people personal choice.
“Thanks to the successful rollout of our vaccination programme, we are progressing cautiously through our road map,” Mr Johnson said. “Today we will set out how we can restore people’s freedoms when we reach Step 4. But I must stress that the pandemic is not over and that cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks. As we begin to learn to live with this virus, we must all continue to carefully manage the risks from Covid and exercise judgment when going about our lives.”
With Mr Johnson due to address the nation, Health Secretary Sajid Javid will announce the Government’s plans to Parliament. It follows stern rebukes from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in recent weeks for Ministers deciding to make statements to the Press before MPs.
The Government said it will not be known until Monday next week – seven days before the target date for easing restrictions – whether its four tests for unlocking have been met.
Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, which gives evidence to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said: “Hopefully we’ll be well prepared moving forward and we won’t need any sort of restrictions to be put in place as we move into the autumn and winter.”
The possibility of a wholesale easing of restrictions will come as a blow to senior doctors, with the British Medical Association petitioning for some measures to remain in place to arrest the “alarming” rise in cases.
The latest Government figures show that, as of 9am yesterday, there had been a further 24,248 lab-confirmed cases in the UK, while a further 15 people had died within 28 days of testing positive.
The Office for National Statistics found cases in England nearly doubled in a week, with one in 260 people in private households having Covid-19 in the week to June 26 – the highest level since the week to February 27.