England will move to the final stage of easing Covid restrictions on 19 July, ministers have confirmed.
It means almost all legal restrictions on social contact will be removed.
But the prime minister said it was vital to proceed with “caution” because “this pandemic is not over” .
Earlier, the health secretary told the House of Commons cases could reach 100,000 a day later in the summer but he did not believe this would put “unsustainable pressure on the NHS”.
Vaccinations had created a “protective wall”, which would mean we could “withstand a summer wave” Sajid Javid added.
Boris Johnson has then told a Downing Street press conference: “Coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family.
While virtually all legal restrictions will be lifted, some guidance will remain.
For example, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in some enclosed public places will be removed but Mr Javid said they were still “expected and recommended” in crowded indoor areas.
Nightclubs will also be allowed to reopen and capacity limits will be removed for all venues and events.
There will no longer be any limits on how many people can meet and the 1m-plus distancing rule will be removed.
But the health secretary told MPs businesses and large events would be encouraged to use Covid status certification – so-called domestic vaccine passports – in “high-risk settings”.
These would allow people to show whether they are double-jabbed, have had a negative test result or have natural immunity after recovering from Covid-19, using the NHS app.
Mr Javid said it was important people should act with “caution and with personal responsibility”.
For example, he said people should return to work “gradually” if they are currently working from home and “should try to meet people outside where possible”.
The requirement to self-isolate if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace will remain in place until 16 August, when it will be relaxed for people who are fully vaccinated and for the under-18s. If someone tests positive for the virus they will still be legally required to self-isolate.
Source: Fiilafmonline/BBC
