Boris Johnson is set to reveal the governments plan for lockdown on the 19th of July.
The PM is expected to address the rules surrounding social distancing, face masks and working from home, which have all been subject to a lot of scrutiny over the past several weeks.
According to the new reports, Johnson will discuss making face coverings/ masks an option on public transport, whilst removing table service only requirements at bars/restaurants and allowing the UK’s festivals/nightclubs to return. The choice of working from home is likely to be left to the individual companies.
Johnson said Monday’s update would “set out how we can restore people’s freedoms when we reach step four”, before adding that the “pandemic is not over and that cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks.”
UK national restrictions have been in force in England since early January, having been periodically eased over a number of months.
The government had originally planned to remove all of the COVID-19 measures in the last week of June, but were forced to delay the reopening date to the 19th of July as the Delta variant of the virus pushed up nationwide cases.
Nonetheless, UK ministers have been repeatedly claiming that the country is set to lift more guidelines later this month, although it remains unclear whether all restrictions will be permanently removed in the coming weeks. Tonight’s press conference is expected to provide some insight as to what steps the government will take.