Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Mikey Smith & Sophie McCoid

Lockdown measures 'unlikely' to be lifted before July 19, says minister

A senior government minister has said that coronavirus restrictions are "unlikely" to be lifted before July 19.

Boris Johnson delayed the lifting of lockdown measures to July 19 following a rise in cases of the Delta Variant, but said there would be a review after two weeks.

However Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News he did not expect that to lead to an earlier relaxation of the current measures - reports Mirror Online.

READ MORE: Everything you can and can't do from June 21

He said: "I would always err on the side of caution and I would look to July 19. It could be before but I think that is unlikely. Generally we have stuck to the dates we have set.

"I think now I am very focused on July 19."

Number 10 has said the two week review was "unlikely" to result in an earlier unlocking since the delay to step 4 was announced last week.

More than one million Covid-19 jabs were booked in just two days after the NHS opened its vaccination programme to all remaining adults in England.

A total of 1,008,472 appointments were arranged over Friday and Saturday through the booking service, NHS England said - an average of more than 21,000 every hour, or six every second.

The full figure is likely to be higher as it does not include appointments at local GP-led vaccination services or people getting the jab at walk-in centres.

The NHS has now administered around 62 million doses since Margaret Keenan became the first member of the public to get a jab on December 8.

Four in five adults have now received their first vaccination, according to NHS England figures - with three in five having both.

Public Health England's Covid-19 director Dr Susan Hopkins said on Sunday she hoped all people over 40 could get their vaccine before the full easing of lockdown restrictions planned for July 19.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: "It is fantastic to see so many young people coming forward to play their part, protecting themselves, their friends and their family - nearly nine million people in their twenties and thirties have now had their first dose."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "It is superb to see the continued enthusiasm young people are showing for vaccines across the country."

He added: "It is vital we build on this momentum for second doses so people have the fullest protection possible."

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.