Covid Roadmap for lifting Lockdown – from the BBC News website

The prime minister has set out government plans to lift the remaining Covid restrictions in England.

At a Downing Street briefing, Boris Johnson said the government was looking to “move away from legal restrictions” and would instead allow people “to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus”.

What rules and guidance are expected to be relaxed?

Confirmation of the lifting of restrictions and guidance won’t actually happen until 12 July, when the latest Covid health data will be reviewed. However, the following measures are expected:

Social distancing/face coverings

no limits on social contact
1m-plus rule removed (except in some settings, such as ports of entry and medical settings)
no legal requirements for face coverings (although their use will still be advised in hospitals, healthcare settings and enclosed, crowded public spaces)

Events/hospitality/businesses

nightclubs permitted to reopen
capacity caps on businesses will be lifted
hospitality businesses will no longer be required to provide table service only
no limits on numbers at weddings and funerals
no restrictions on communal worship and singing
no limits on people attending concerts, theatres or sports events
no legal requirements for Covid certificates for any venue or event

Guidance on working from home will also end and limits on named visitors to care homes will be removed.

Symptomatic testing and contact tracing will continue – and it will still remain a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid.

Mr Johnson said there would be announcements later this month on:

removing school bubbles and contact-isolation for pupils
removing the need for fully-vaccinated people to self-isolate on return from “amber list” countries