The Prime Minister will host a press conference this afternoon where he will set out plans for the final step of the Roadmap in England
The Health and Social Care Secretary will announce the plans to Parliament.
Step 4 is expected to begin on Monday 19th July if the government’s “four tests” for easing COVID restrictions have been met.
This will be confirmed on Monday 12th July following a review of the latest data.
He is expected to announce that we will no longer be bound by Covid laws on facemasks and social distancing but people should instead exercise their own “judgment” when restrictions are lifted.
Th rule of six indoors will go, as will the limit on gatherings of more than 30 outside.
The requirement to scan a QR code whenever you enter a restaurant or similar will be ditched. The ban on mass events will also be lifted, so music festivals can go ahead.
The government will no longer order people to work from home, with the decision now up to employers.
The latest data and scientific modelling suggest that cases will continue to rise as restrictions are eased, but the link to hospitalisations and deaths has been weakened due to the vaccination programme.
As of 2 July, there were 27,714 new positive cases in England. 331 people were admitted with COVID-19 and there were 1,611 patients in hospital. The latest ONS estimates show that 1 in 260 people have COVID-19 in England.
Next steps on the 1m plus rule, face coverings, and working from home will be set out, alongside the findings of the social distancing and certification review. An update will also be provided on the next steps for care home visits.
The Prime Minister is expected to reiterate that COVID will become a virus that we learn to live with as we already do with flu.
This means that hospitalisations, serious illness and deaths from COVID will continue, albeit at a much lower level than before the vaccination programme.
Data from Public Health England now shows that COVID vaccines are highly effective against severe illness and hospitalisation from this variant. The analysis suggests the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine 92% effective against hospitalisation after two doses.
The government is ensuring preparations are in place to offer third “booster” doses to everyone aged over 50 and the most vulnerable to boost their immunity over the winter months, based on interim advice from the JCVI. Final advice is expected in the coming months.
