England's lockdown laws will be axed as planned in seven days but Boris Johnson will tighten advice on Covid passports, masks, vulnerable people and working from home in a massive U-turn.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid today confirmed legal restrictions on wearing masks, the ‘rule of six’ indoors and the ban on nightclubs opening will all go from July 19.
He told MPs there will "never be a perfect time" to lift the restrictions, but added: "To those who say 'why take this step now' I say 'if not now, when?'"
Despite admitting cases could soar to 100,000 per day later in the summer, Mr Javid said the vaccine programme would prevent a surge in deaths and hospitalisations.
He told the Commons: “We believe this wall means we can withstand a summer wave.
“And while the wall would be higher still if we waited until winter, we know the wave would be much more dangerous.
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“So while we know there are risks with any decision, this is the most responsible decision we can take.”
But Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth warned the soaring case numbers and unlocking would lead to thousands suffering long Covid and a heightened risk of new variants developing.
He said: “He’s putting his foot down on the accelerator while throwing the seat belts off.”
Labour would back continued mandatory mask wearing, Mr Ashworth said.
As cases soar above 30,000 a day, the government will flood businesses and individuals with new voluntary “guidance” in what many will see as a screeching half-U-turn.
The most significant change is in high-risk crowded venues - which will now suddenly be “encouraged” to use Covid passports at just a few days’ notice.
Despite government guidance last week making clear ’Covid status certification’ would not be a legal requirement, it’s now emerged it will be advised for any “high-risk” venue.
That means nightclubs, gigs, sports and even some crowded city centre pubs will be “encouraged” to ask all punters to show they’ve had either the vaccine, a negative rapid test or a past Covid infection to get in.
This will happen via the NHS app, which is different to the NHS Covid-19 app for testing and tracing.
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Talks between government and industry about exactly how it will work are expected to take place over the coming days and weeks, despite the fact changes are supposed to start next Monday.
The handbrake turn is likely to lead to more accusations of chaos mixed messaging from the government - and questions over whether the end of lockdown will truly be “irreversible”, as Boris Johnson promised.
It is one of a string of measures that are set to have tighter voluntary “guidance” than first thought last week.
More than 2million clinically extremely vulnerable people will be advised to consider avoiding crowded places and unvaccinated people all summer, it's understood.
This group - some of whom aren’t properly protected even if they have the vaccine, due to immune system issues - will be issued with fresh guidance later this week.
It is thought the guidance will go through ways in which clinically extremely vulnerable people can look to protect themselves at the moment.
This will for instance include:
Getting a vaccination now for those who have not yet taken it up; Considering scenarios where they may be more at risk; How to make themselves safer by meeting outside if possible, or looking for ventilation; Considering if they are meeting people who are vaccinated, so as to be less at risk of catching Covid from them; Advice around health and safety at work.
It is likely this guidance will have some things in common with guidance for the general public - for instance, meeting outdoors where possible.
But it is likely to prompt furious claims that vulnerable people are being relegated to second-class citizens or excluded from society.
SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford told the Health Secretary: “As vulnerable people can’t count on others wearing masks, for them July 19 all not be Freedom Day but the exact opposite.”
Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson asked of Mr Javid: “Is he pursuing a survival of the fittest policy where the most vulnerable will be thrown to the wolves?”
Meanwhile the government will “expect and recommend” people in England to wear face masks in “crowded areas such as public transport”, No10 said.
That is a change from last week, when guidance merely said face coverings “reduce your risk and the risk to others” but people were told they would be able to make a personal judgement.
Minsters who claimed they would remove their face masks are also set to keep them on in another U-turn. Boris Johnson’s spokesman said: “All ministers will abide by the guidance that will be published today, and I’m confident they will do so.”
Finally, working from home guidance will still be scrapped - but the government now admits the return to work will only be “gradual”.
The PM’s spokesman said: “While the government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can, we expect and recommend a gradual return to the workplace over the summer.”
