THE majority of Covid-19 restrictions across England are set to be lifted on July 19, a day being marked by anti-lockdown citizens as ‘freedom day’ and the end of most legal obligations around virus SOPs.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday revealed a roadmap for Step 4 of lifting Covid-19 restrictions which have been in place since a national lockdown was enforced in December 2020.

According to the new rules, the legal obligation to wear a face mask will be removed, as will the 1-metre rule on social distancing. The final decision on these rules will be taken on July 12.

Johnson said people will be allowed to make their own decisions about what is safe, instead of behaviour being determined by law. “We will move away from legal restrictions, and people will make their own informed decisions on how to manage the virus,”

Johnson said at a press conference, flanked by chief medical advisor Prof Chris Whitty and chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance.

British PM says most Covid-19 restrictions set to be lifted on July 19

Businesses and nightclubs will reopen, and limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings will be lifted. Johnson also outlined what effect the lifting of restrictions will have on disease spread, saying cases could reach 50,000 per day within a fortnight.

When asked what the advice is on mask-wearing, the prime minister said there is a “big difference between travelling on a crowded tube train and traveling late at night in a virtually empty carriage”.

Whitty said he would wear face coverings indoors and in crowded places.

Johnson acknowledged that opening up would mean more cases and deaths, but said: “If you do not go ahead now, then when will you go ahead?” “To those who oppose opening up, the alternative is winter, when the virus will have an advantage, or not at all this year.”

He added that the government plans to reinforce vaccine coverage, reduce the interval, and plan a programme for booster vaccines for the vulnerable in coming months.

About football celebrations that are taking place across England as it enters the Euro 2020 semu0-final, Johnson said citizens should “support England enthusiastically but in a responsible way”.

Step 4 was originally scheduled to kick off on June 21, but it was paused, Johnson said, “in order to vaccinate every adult with one dose by July 19 and two-thirds with a second dose.”

“The vaccine is successful; the majority of hospital admissions are unvaccinated… [it has] greatly reduced mortality.” Current travel restrictions, which place countries in categories of the traffic light system, remain unchanged for now. On Monday, the UK government recorded 27,334 new Covid cases and 28 new deaths. Close to 400 people were hospitalised with Covid-19 related complications.

Criticism Experts fear the lifting of restrictions would push England into yet another lockdown. Guardian columnist Marina Hyde tweeted: “Can’t quite shake the feeling we’re just getting a couple of months off then restrictions return.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson doesn’t have the data “so he’s not in a position to make a decision until next Monday. “To throw off all protections at the same time, when the infection rate is going up, is reckless.”

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021