"It's an abdication of responsibility"
The Prime Minister has been setting out what's going to be changing in two weeks time
Boris Johnson has said that nearly all of England’s coronavirus regulations, including wearing masks, will be scrapped at the next stage of the road map, which he's planning to happen on the 19th July.
The Prime Minister has been setting out what's going to be changing in two weeks time, although the final decision on the date will be taken on the 12th July.
He confirmed the next stage would include scrapping mandatory mask-wearing and lifting social distancing requirements; instead, the public are being asked to use their judgment and the protection offered by vaccines.
What will change on July 19th if step 4 goes ahead?
Here's what Boris Johnson announced would happen in the next step of easing:
There will be no limits on social contact, meaning the end of the orders such as the “rule of six” and restrictions on guests at weddings and mourners at funerals.
Legal requirement to wear face coverings will be lifted, although guidance will suggest people might choose to do so in “enclosed and crowded places”.
All remaining businesses will be able to reopen, including nightclubs, while capacity caps will be lifted and bars and restaurants will no longer be restricted to table service.
The Government will no longer instruct people to work from home.
The “one metre plus” rule on social distancing will be lifted except in specific circumstances such as at the border, where guidance will remain to keep passengers from red and amber list countries from mingling with other travellers.
The limit on named care home visitors will be lifted but infection control measures will remain in place.
The gap between vaccine doses for under-40s will be reduced from 12 weeks to eight, meaning that all adults will have the opportunity to be double-jabbed by mid-September
Mr Johnson also confirmed there will be no compulsory use of Covid vaccine passports – although firms will be able to voluntarily use the system.
Dr Stephen Griffins a virologist from Leeds said:
"I'm incredibly concerned. I feel it's an abdication of responsibility n behalf of the government. It reminds me of the stay alert warning, people need guidance because it gives reassurance.
"Other countries are doing this, they've seen the cost of unlocking whilst they're vaccinating and they've reversed track. The main reason we are doing this is because people are fed up.
"The economic costs are immense, but that's mainly because we've had to do it 3 times before and I don't think having vaccines is a reason to repeat those same mistakes."
The limit on named care home visitors will be lifted but infection control measures will remain in place.
But, relatives are calling for time restrictions and booking systems to be scrapped.
Penny Hutchinson from Halifax, who's part of Rights for Residents, visits her mum in a local care home, she said:
"We've still got families who have 30 minutes a week with their loved ones. Lets lose those time restrictions.
"For anyone with learning difficulties or dementia, to see somebody, their loved one, for half an hour a week, or in some cases ridiculously a fortnight, it's kind of meaningless.
"You don't get that chance to build up that repour, that hand touching, that time to remind, and have all that time to bring back the memories."