Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Jessica Sansome

The Covid lockdown rules changing on July 19 from face masks to social distancing

Boris Johnson has outlined what step four of England's roadmap in the coming weeks will entail.

The Prime Minister addressed the country at a Downing Street press conference on Monday evening alongside England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

The limits on social contact are set to be scrapped and all remaining businesses will be able to reopen, including nightclubs.

Mass event crowd limits will also be lifted and those under-40 can reduce the dosing interval from 12 weeks to eight weeks - meaning all adults should have been offered the chance for a second dose by mid-September.

READ MORE: LIVE updates as Boris Johnson makes July 19 lockdown announcement

The PM's official spokesman said prior to the announcement that "we will move from legal restrictions on our day-to-day lives, and advise people how to manage the risks in order to protect themselves and others."

Mr Johnson now believes the link between cases and deaths has been "severely weakened but not broken", his spokesman added.

While cases will continue to rise and deaths and hospitalisations will continue, they believe it will be at a "much lower level" than before the vaccination programme, the PM’s spokesman said.

What do you think of the measures being lifted? Have your say below

While the lifting of remaining measures is expected to go ahead in two weeks time, on Monday July 19, this will still be dependent on if the four tests are still met.

The final decision will be confirmed next Monday, July 12, following a review of the data.

Here's a look at the changes in full:

Changes to waiting time between vaccines

The vaccine rollout will be further accelerated by reducing the dosing interval for under-40s from 12 weeks to eight weeks.

This matches the shorter eight-week interval that already exists for over-40s between their first and second dose.

It means the government now expects all adults to have been offered the chance for a second dose by mid-September.

Social contact limits scrapped

There will no longer be limits on social contact - with the rule of six indoors and rule of 30 outdoors, which limited gatherings by law, both gone.

The 30-person limit that remained on some "life events" such as bar mitzvahs and christenings will also be scrapped.

Nightclubs open

All remaining businesses will be able to reopen including nightclubs - and all capacity caps will be lifted, including on mass events.

Social distancing scrapped except in certain places

The one metre plus rule will also be axed except in specific places - such as at the borders (the airport arrival hall), and if you test positive and are on your way to self-isolation.

Legal requirement to wear face mask axed

You will not longer be required to wear a face mask by law in all settings.

Guidance will be issued and suggest people might choose to wear a face covering in enclosed and crowded places, but this will be voluntary.

This even applies in the NHS and care homes - where face masks will not be a legal requirement, even though they will be advised.

This will also be the case for public transport or on flights.

However, individual airlines are free to tell their passengers to wear masks on board as a condition of travelling with that airline.

Businesses can also set rules for entry to their own premises and rail firms could attempt to mandate masks as a condition of carriage even if it’s not a legal requirement.

Nightclubs can reopen (Getty Images)

Work from home guidance removed

The government will no longer instruct people to work from home.

However, it also remains the decision for employers as people will have a clear legal right to work from home if they’re not comfortable with mask rules in their workplace.

All res trictions on pubs lifted

Legal requirements on hospitality businesses will be revoked, such as restrictions on seated eating and drinking and mandatory table service.

People will no longer be required to scan in using QR codes but venues can still request this if they want or visitors can continue to scan and check-in if they wish.

Lift on care home visitor limits

The five-person limit on each resident’s number of "named visitors" will be lifted, with any number of visitors allowed.

However, there may still be a limit on the number of visitors a resident can receive in one day and infection control measures such as PPE and enhanced cleaning, will remain in place.

No Covid passports

There will be no legal requirements on Covid status certification- or vaccine passport - as a condition of entry for any setting.

However, businesses will be able to voluntarily adopt certification if they want to and the NHS app will facilitate this.

Test and trace to remain

A “proportionate” test, trace and isolate system will be retained at step four meaning people with Covid symptoms should continue to get a test.

Free asymptomatic testing - include lateral flow tests that you can order to your home - will be extended to September 30.

Contact tracing will also stay, and it will remain a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, or are asked to do so by Test and Trace.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.