Lifting final phase of Covid-19 restrictions to be postponed by four weeks

The final lifting of Covid-19 restrictions that was due to take place on June 21st has been postponed four weeks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday.

In a televised briefing, the Prime Minister announced the delay in the easing of restrictions would allow time for an acceleration of the vaccination effort. In recent weeks, coronavirus case numbers have begun rising once more with currently around 8,000 cases being reported daily, with a weekly increase in the infection rate of around 64%.

Restrictions are now expected to be eased on 19th July: by this date, all over 18s will have been offered a first dose, and two-thirds of adults will have been offered both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The rise in infections is being driven by the Delta variant, which emerged in India earlier this year, and is up to 80% more transmissible than the Alpha, or Kent variant, previously the dominant strain in the UK. Delta variant cases now accounts for up to 95% of Covid-19 infections in the UK. While hospitalisations have begun also to increase, particularly in the North-west, vaccines are proving effective in preventing serious illness from current variants of the coronavirus.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the Step 4 of the lockdown easing is now to be expected for Monday 19th July, providing the four following tests are met:

• The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
• Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
• Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
• Assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern

Should data rapidly improve in the coming weeks as the vaccine rollout continues, the date of ‘unlocking’ could be brought forward to 5th July. No new restrictions or measures will be put in place.

Some measures planned for the 21st June will continue to go ahead however:

The 30-person limit will be lifted for weddings and wakes but venues should meet Covid-secure guidance and offer table service. Care home residents will no longer need to self-isolate should they leave their residence unless they have faced a higher risk of exposure. Event pilots, including Wimbledon, Euro 2020 matches and some arts and music performances will also still go ahead providing attendees can show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result.