England will move to the fourth and final step in the government’s roadmap to lift lockdown restrictions within a week, the Health Secretary has confirmed to MPs.
In what Sajid Javid has said is a “major milestone for this country,” moving to stage four on July 19 will see social distancing rules and social contact limits removed across the country.
And any remaining businesses that were closed during the pandemic, such as nightclubs, will be allowed to reopen.
“We all aspire to make it happen and we all want it to be a one-way trip,” Javid told the Commons.
He said on the evidence before him that he “did not believe infection rates would put an unsustainable pressure on the NHS”.
He said it was the “right time” to take step four, adding: “If not now, when? There will never be a perfect time to take this step because we cannot. just not eradicate this virus. “
As part of the fourth step, companies and large event planners will be encouraged to use “COVID passports” – proof of double vaccination, negative test or recovery from the coronavirus – in “high risk” settings in order to limit the spread of infections in their premises.
The government will also no longer order people to work from home if they can, although ministers recommend that employers oversee a phased return to work for their employees this summer.
Although the legal requirement to wear face masks in stores and on public transport is lifted next Monday, the government will recommend that people continue to wear face covers in crowded areas such as trains, trams and public transport. bus – but not in places such as discos.
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-07-12 14:08:00
